Bali - take two

two new summer styles

the perfect winter dress

A wise person once said.  'If at first you don't succeed: try, try, try again. Don't give up too easily. Persistence pays off in the end" by American educator Thomas H. Palmer

Well this is my current mantra. I have been totally duped by my original manufacturer. Yes! she has promised and promised and still nothing. Now she doesn't even respond to me.

Luckily I have a lady on the ground in Bali helping me find my stuff. She has all of the board shorts and the screens. Now she is trying to get the rest of my clothing and patterns. Initially I was totally bumbed out when I finally accepted that I wasn't going to be seeing my goods anytime soon. Now I have come to terms with it and I am all systems go for the next round. I am heading back to Bali at the end of Feb to chat to a new manufacturer and also to hopefully retrieve my stuff from the very dishonest Linda.

I remember that when I started Fresco Creative all those years ago there were always set backs. There always are in the world of business so this is just all part and parcel. I am not going to give up. I will keep going to fulfill my dream.

The feeling of disappointment is an understatement to how I feel but no point dwelling on the past. Negativity never got anyone anywhere.

I am back - Gordon's Bay

Gordon's Bay

Oops had another little break. This time because I was moving house.

We have moved to the most amazing street in the most amazing part of Sydney. I had reservations about moving in that we left a beautiful home (which I renovated) to a more modest home. I thought it was all about the house but how wrong I was. I love our new modest little abode and I love being able to walk to the beach. It is so wonderful. 4mins to Coogee and 7mins to Clovelly and 2mins to Gordon's Bay.

Life is good.

what a lovely little break that was

It wasn't planned but I gave myself a little blog break.
What have we been doing? well...

we drank coffee

we swam

we packed

we had sleep overs

we ran through sprinklers

we opened Christmas presents from Santa

we sang Christmas carols at Carols by Candlelight

we danced

Santa came to visit?!!@#$%

we ate... a lot

and we baked.

So much fun, so busy and still so much more of the holidays to enjoy.

We move house in less than a week. Busy times ahead.

What have you been up to?

Vedic Meditation

 we are in the process of branding a company called Inner Space which is owned and run by Corey Snell a Vedic Meditation teacher.

What is Vedic Meditation?
Rather than me try to explain it please take a moment to watch this short video.
http://youtu.be/wImaO6mTXNk

As part of this creative process Corey offered Triscia (my business partner) and myself the opportunity to explore the benefits of this style of meditation. It has been great.
I meditate twice a day for 20mins each time.
At first I thought it would be hard to find the time but I seem to be finding the time and experiencing the benefits

I have tried many forms of meditation in the past and always found it to be frustrating but this one seems to work as there is no pressure and you do it at your own pace and time. A great tool to have when you lead a busy life like most of us do.

Give it a go.

New collection for children's clothes by loopylu

Even though my current collection hasn't come from Bali I am already planning for the next collection.

Here is a sneak preview of my initial sketches.

BTW the gloss in the background sitting on my desk is the best. Buxom bought in the US last year.

The only place to buy in Australia is from here. http://www.madamebutterflybyron.com/index.html

Love to hear your thoughts :)

White is the new black!

Thinking about my new colour scheme for our new house... I am loving white. I know it is a long way off but I am really into white at the moment. White on White ...

So I trawled the internet for white inspirations. Don't you just love the white bird?

What are you into colour wise at the moment... oh and I am still obsessed with yellow.

My little babies are growing up

how cute are they... the kids are loving watching their progress and which onces grow quicker thank others and they take note on how much they are changing from day to day.
so lovely.

Recipe of the week. Chicken and Haloumi

Ingredients
2 x 200g chicken breast fillets, trimmed
150g haloumi, cut into 4 slices
1 tablespoon shredded lemon zest
6 sprigs lemon thyme

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 tablespoon honeyfig and rocket (arugula) salad, to serve

Method
Preheat oven to 180°C (350°F).Place the chicken, haloumi, zest and lemon thyme in a ceramic baking dish.Combine the oil and honey and pour over.Bake for 18–20 minutes or until chicken is cooked through. Serve with a fig and rocket salad.

I don't have an image of this recipe but it is so easy, so yummy and so healthy... I make this once a month on a Monday night when life in my house is so hectic and busy with homework, three kids and swimming lessons. It is so quick that we eat well, and delicious despite the chaos.

Inspiring new blog

http://everydaybright.com/

great blog... so inspiring and amazing. something for everyone. Take from it what you will...

not that I need to re-invent my career as I have enough going on but it offers some great tips on just seeing things differently

Decorating the tree - Christmas is in the air

tree trimming

I love this time of the year. So festive and full of joy and the weather is behaving itself today so it is really starting to feel like Christmas.

I woke up feeling a little sad this morning as my plans to launch loopylu before Christmas is looking less likely. My manufacturer has really let me down and still no clothes in sight. Up until now I have been feeling positive but now I am being realistic and it's probably just not going to happen... shame shame. Me being me though believes that it all happens for a reason. Once I know what that reason is I will let you know.

Anyway, onward and upward who can't be happy at this time of the year with or without loopylu launching. My family and I are going to have a fabulous Christmas. So much to be thankful for and so much to do.

Does anyone else confuse themselves around Christmas time with their Christmas shopping...?  I need to sort out and write a list as think Jack has an uneven amount of pressies so I will need to do some balancing.

L:)

Our weekend. Better late than never

Sydney siders were very lucky to be blessed with amazing weather on the weekend.

What did we do?

cute as a button

we went swimming in our pool.

we went bike riding

we watered our little seedlings. They are even bigger now.

and watched them grow

celebrated my nieces 3rd birthday at the park.

Add caption

Angus was just as excited as the party girl.

Took the older two kids to see Chitty Chitty Bang Bang at the Capital Theatre.

and... went to a Spanish themed dinner party at a friends house and danced the night away. No pics of this one. Jack and Liv had play dates, Stu did work on the new house... my god we did a lot.

Colour psychology

Following on from my recent post on branding I thought it would be helpful to share some basic thoughts on colours. This is a brief outline describing colour theory and their meanings. This is something I studied way back when at design school but it is a great thing to know, even help when you are thinking of something to wear.

Red - bold and draws attention. Shows confidence and passion
Orange - unity and harmony
Yellow - cheer, more mellow yellows display stability
Green - growth development and motivation
Blue - introspection and tranquility
Purple - creativity and spirituality
Pink - soothing and nurturing
Gray - balance and safety
Brown - grounding and security
Black - mystery, authority, depth and strength
White - trust

What is your favourite colour?