Pip Pip Hooray

Rare Albino Photographs

2011-12-28T12:57:00.000+11:00

I just had to share with you this incredible photography series I just found by Gustavo Lacerda.

Incredible stuff... so enchanting... so unique...

such a beautiful glimpse and insight into these extraordinary people born to look so unique from the rest of the world.

My Crafting Obsessions

2011-12-19T13:24:00.000+11:00

So as I've said many a time before... I absolutely love my work! I feel like I'm living the dream being able to design and sell online. I'm so very very thankful to say that my online stores are doing well and I'm still working hard at adding new designs on a regular basis.

But even through this happiness... over the last 6 months I've found myself wanting more and more ... to find things to do away from the computer and have more time creating with my hands. It started with my painting ... and then with cakes, then onto party planning and then slowly progressed into home crafts.

The internet (the main focus being Pinterest) of course has had nearly everything to do with that transition. The amount of talent and inspiration I see on a daily basis on the internet is just mind blowing!! And as many of would know all too well... pinterest easily becomes literally an obsession!

Well... obsession it definitely was with me... where I was trying practically everything fun & crafty that took my fancy! I've been crafting so much in whatever spare time I have that my output is pretty crazy!

So much so that my Mum and I have decided to go in partnership together selling our craft and vintage wares! We've always talked about being in some kind of art/craft venture together cause it's such an overwhelming passion for us both. We're both very excited about the prospect and I must admit I've loved having this new venture to begin focusing on when I'm not working on my Pip Pip Hooray Stores. That's how I've always been... I like mixing things up all the time!

Here's but a tiny glimpse of what I've made the last 6 months or so...

More sneaky peeks to come!

French Ex....quisite

2011-12-15T12:25:00.001+11:00

I've fallen in love with this singer Zaz! She's transcended the language barrier through to my soul!!

Jeff Buckley - Musical God!

2011-12-13T09:39:00.000+11:00

I just had to share this brilliant documentary I found all about Jeff Buckley. He's the artist I will never ever forget and feel most grief about his tragic loss. To think what music he would have written and performed had he lived longer.... just overwhelms me!! Although sometimes I wonder whether the world would have even been able to handle where his musical journey went... considering what he produced with his first solo album!!

I've listed to Grace so many times I've lost count. He is still the only musician that physically moves me... I get goosebumps, shivers... I feel overwhelming emotional feelings when I hear his music.

It really is like Jeff Buckley is a conduit... to something or somewhere else so beautiful... somewhere that can't be touched with words or through sight... but can only be touched through his music!!

Getting Personal - Living Wholeheartedly

2011-12-03T10:06:00.002+11:00

If you haven't watched Brene Brown's TED video yet I'd be quite surprised!

I've already posted it on my personal facebook page for friends and family twice and I just asked myself while browsing Brene's blog again... "Why haven't I blogged about this yet?". After all... everything that Brene says strikes a chord so deeply with my own soul truth and it seems to strike a chord with so many others that I can't help but want to share it in the hope it may help others as it's helped me!

Brene believes completely and wholeheartedly in connection. She has researched for decades human behaviour through interviews and can prove through her research, that connection is what we all yearn for... what we all want and need... but what many of us run from. She's right when she says it's a subject that no one wants to talk about. But here I am... pushing through the fear of talking about it and doing it cause my gut is telling me to.

To me, connection is love. I love that Brene uses the word connection though because it takes away that 'overwhelming' factor and feeling that the word love can bring. I also think the word 'Love' sounds too corny or sappy to many people and I think many switch off when using that word thinking of love only in one or two frames of context (usually in terms of sexual or family). Calling love connection is so much better because it's a word that describes the kind of love we all should strive for... love/connection for ourselves... love/connection for all our fellow man... love/connection for our sameness... love/connection for our uniqueness... love and connection bringing with it the ability to see everything for what it truly is.

I'm always striving for connection in my life. And I'm very thankful to say I have so much of it already... I have grown up with a truly wonderful family who love me unconditionally and who I love unconditionally and feel completely at ease around, I found the love of my life, and I have my son... my truest and deepest definition of love... my reason for wanting to better myself, to be all that I can be - for him - the sunshine in my world! And if that's not greedy enough... I also wish to have love... or connection with my friends and fellow human beings.

I've had it many a time before... connection with pure strangers and it's those moments that I'll remember forever. I've had connection with people on the internet... some of the best in fact!

Take for instance the one who first introduced me to Brene. Her name is Sarah... but I just have to call her Sas! She's the wonderful girl I have no problem or hesitation in calling my cyber sister and friend! The amount of connection and synchronicity I've experienced with her, which began from the very start of our crossing paths - is just intensely wonderful! I feel as though we are so alike in many ways and she's constantly sending inspiration and moments of connection my way through music, words and through witnessing her own journey of self exploration and growth. (See her fabulous blog here)

So I have all this wonderful connection in my life... and I strive for more of it everyday. New connection and re-kindling or nurturing old. And I really wish for everyone else to have the same thing if they haven't already! Because living a life through connection/love is in my opinion the most rewarding and only way to truly live! Granted it can be confronting, hurtful and hard at times... but no good things come to those without hard work or adversity. And in my opinion... the good far outweighs the bad.

To be truthful, to be vulnerable with those you love, to be yourself... that's when you find connection... and you can only have connection by doing these things.

It's those moments you can't explain or put into words... the moments with another person where things just click or you feel it and know it in your mind and heart but you don't say it out loud (or sometimes you do). Where you feel something much deeper or stronger than your average dealings with an acquaintance or stranger.

To me, living authentically and with connection is also what I consider - tuning into my gut feelings... I've learned to listen and trust my gut instinct now with everything I do and the more I do that... the stronger the instinct becomes. I find friendships through it, I do my work through it, I live my life through it. I live almost completely spontaneously now... and many who don't really know me... would definitely think me unorganized, airy or strange... but I don't care... cause honestly... I'm the most content I've ever been!

I've still so many a thing to learn.. especially in the form of connection with self... I seem to have no real problem mastering it with others but when it comes to unconditional love for myself I've struggled with that since a child. I've put myself through some very intense and hard lessons in the process of trying to find myself... some things I'm still recovering from... that I will be for the rest of my life. But I've come a long way in regards to it... but still have a ways to go!

I also struggle with letting myself feel pain and my vulnerability... that's always been my hardest lesson... just being able to let go and feel it is something I've still to learn how to do. You see when I feel my pain... or even my joy... that vulneribility leads to fear of loss in me which then leads to anxiety... so I've learned to avoid it... to find ways of numbing it. The fear grew stronger after my brother died because then the reality of death and extreme loss of love was upon me which I found extremely hard to cope with.

But I'm slowly breaking down the barriers and allowing myself to confront it... but it has to be a slow process because I can't take that kind of emotion head on. It's baby steps for me... cause I've ran from my pain for such a long time. I'm definitely in a place now that is better... but I still find myself at times using business, shopping, food and technology to avoid it! That's my newest and most important lesson I'm learning right now... allowing myself to let go and 'really' feel my pain. I'm even working through a lot of my unresolved grief of losing my brother which was 13 years ago!! Over a decade I managed to run and hide from the grief but it did nothing but mean I had more to face in the long run! But I'm thankful I'm finally in a place where I'm facing it as well as being thankful for it! I know it may sound strange but I am thankful for it... because it's taught me so much... his death taught me not to take those I love for granted... to be appreciative of the little things! That's a gift!!

So everyday is a learning day... and I'll be learning till I die. I look forward to all the connections that lie in my future... whether they lead to pain or joy (hopefully a good balance of both). I choose to welcome them with open arms.

I hope your arms are open too?

Love to you all.

Personalized Jewellery / Product Backing Cards for Etsy or Ebay

2011-11-28T09:17:00.002+11:00

These very affordable yet beautiful in quality and design personalized product backing cards... are perfect for the at home crafter or work at home Mum doing small hand made products.

You could easily punch a hole in the top to turn them into tags... punch small holes in the centre to hold earrings, brooches, hair clips.... or put them in clear bag as the backing card for strength and beautiful business marketing and promotion!

Easily personalize with your own logo (best suited for .png logo's with transparent backgrounds) and text in just minutes online!

Each card costs under approx 50 cents each (even less if printed on standard card stock) and are double sided, full color large business card sized cards printing on stunning eggshell embossed & textured card stock (or you have the choice or white linen, metallic gold, metallic pearl, metallic platinum, recycled white or just plain white card stock)

More designs coming very soon so be sure to come back to my store.

www.zazzle.com/pip_gerard*

FRONT

BACK

An Orgy in my Garden!

2011-11-20T11:25:00.000+11:00

Outside in the yard with my Mr while he did the very impressive job of removing the 1000s of horrible big weeds that had made home in our garden... I watched as he found what I can only describe as an orgy of snails! He picked them up on his shovel and put them all atop our green bin and I have to tell you I was enthralled! I just stood staring at this mass of shell, sluggy, slimy, slugness and was mesmorized! A sight I'd never seen and I doubt many others had too. So I ran and grabbed my camera to get the little slimy suckers on film.

NEW PRODUCT RELEASE - Laptop Cases/Bags

2011-11-20T11:09:00.000+11:00

I'm pretty excited about these awesome, modern, gorgeous personalized laptop bags that have just been released to the market via my store this month!!

So far I've done a few designs and I think these laptops bags with custom name printed on them would make a really fabulous and unique christmas present for all young business or school ladies out there that carry their laptops all the time. What do you think?

Keep an eye on my store cause new laptop sleeve designs will be coming very soon!!

My New Wedding Stationery Range

2011-11-10T10:59:00.000+11:00

Wanted to show you my newest wedding stationery range. It's a vector design I created of one of my older doodle drawings. I vectorized them to enable me to do them in any colour combination for brides to choose whatever colours they like based on the theme colours of their wedding.

So far I've done them in two colour combinations, first is Honeysuckle (Coral), Ivory and Chocolate Brown.... and Second in the colours Peacock Blue, Pool Blue and Ivory. What do you think?

What I've shown below is not the full range... just a few examples of each. In my store there is also enclosure cards, menu templates, place cards, dessert bar tags, wedding stickers, guestbooks, various thank you cards... and more!

"Home Sweet Home" Wall Print

2011-10-22T20:23:00.000+11:00

"Home Sweet Home" by Pip Gerard | RedBubble:

My New Logo

2011-10-20T11:39:00.000+11:00

I finally got around to committing the time I wanted to designing my business logo. Weeks of design concepts and I finally feel happy with the outcome.

Here's some of the directions I was going with the original concepts... incorporating my business initials PPH (standing for Pip Pip Hooray) with Pip (standing for me! ;) (so in each I was aiming to subtlely show the letters P, P and H as well as PIP being in there too) Although I really loved this idea and approach... in the end I thought it was too corporate looking for my needs. It wasn't artsy enough if you know what I mean.

And here's my chosen outcome... what do you think? Do you like the color? Any suggestions on what you think I should use based on my style and designs?

And here it is with my tree. I'll still use the tree in the logo for certain instances.

Exciting day!! I feel really good about this and have big plans for this logo! :)

I would really really love to hear your honest thoughts please... to me a good logo is paramount (which is why it's taken me so darn long to do it!) so I want to make sure I do it right and I can't do that without others input and advice.

Looking forward to hearing from you.

My religion

2011-10-13T08:29:00.000+11:00

I don't believe in any religion because I've seen too much damage via religion. I will never be in any religion... I know that for sure... I just can't do it.

But I have faith... I think it's very important to have faith and to strive to be a good, loving person in all parts of your life.

My faith is in LOVE. In my opinion LOVE is everything! It's the be all and end all. It's the most important thing in life! It's what we all should be striving for in each and every way in all parts of our lives. Once I realized that there are all kinds of love that span every part of life... I promised myself that I would strive to have it, and be it, in all parts of my own life.

My religion is love... pure and simple.

LOVE is my religion! Typography Print/Poster

Pip's Pink Dessert Table Party

2011-09-28T18:45:00.002+10:00

I've been talking about all things pink and having a pink party for some time and I finally did it! Me and my siblings threw a huge 60th Birthday Party for our wonderful Mum and that was my excuse to go all out and finally make the pink dessert table I've always wanted to make! And thankfully it was all to Mum's taste and she loved every bit. It so lovely to see how happy the party made Mum... she deserved it and so much more! x

Months in the making this dessert table was full with home made accents and accessories, vintage treasure finds and lots of chocolate and sweet delights!

Now I completely understand the appeal and know why so many Mum's do it! Seeing it all come together on the table was such a buzz... I enjoyed every second creating this luscious, pretty in pink dessert table!!

Circus Carnivale Chocolates

2011-09-18T21:31:00.002+10:00

Recently my 6 year old son did his first ever school production. It was a Circus production... filled with clowns, acrobats, strongmen and animals. It was wonderful. I actually shed tears for a second while watching him perform... and I always... always... thought I would not be that kind of Mum! I just couldn't help it! It was seeing him looking so independent, so confident, so grown up.. I just couldn't stop the feelings from overwhelming me.

I was so unbelievably excited leading up to the big nights (there were two nights of the show on a local stage). The kids had been working on this all year so the build up was huge!

I decided I'd do my tiny part (especially compared to some of the incredible help others Mum's gave to costumes and organising!) by helping, along with other Mum's, to make food for the canteen to sell at the shows as a school fundraiser. So of course me being me... I couldn't help myself from getting all over the top creative! No I couldn't just make chocolate crackles and be done with it... I had to come up with all these hair brained ideas and go ALL out for it!! I made myself feel less silly by figuring it was good practice for my party planning skills as well as a good chance for taking photo's so show on my blog (which as you might have noticed has been hugely neglected!).

So here's what I made... chocolate dipped marshmallow sticks and home made chocolates.

I think I enjoyed making the marshmallow sticks the most! I purchased the long marshmallow twirls... then stuck a skewer up through the middle (which is harder than it sounds) then dipped it in melted chocolate. :)

The Ice Cream truck is a cookie jar I found in the local vintage shop! I spent many an

hour working on these but it was all worth it. Knowing in a very small way it was going towards the school was what meant most.

My Great Grandfather

2011-07-23T16:28:00.000+10:00

Quite a while back I posted this photo that I found in our piles of family photo's and I wasn't sure if there was anyone related to me in the photo.

Well I now know for sure that my great grandfather (my father's grandfather) is in the photo... he's in the second row, third from the right with his arms crossed and the light wide brimmed hat on. It's a photo of himself and his work team at the Car Shed for the NSW Train Line in 1911.

Funny how you can look at a photo and feel so detached but once a bit of personal information is attached to it... it can take on a whole new feeling!

George Gerard is his name. A handsome young man he was... I'd only ever seen photo's of him much later in life before seeing this one. I was also really thrilled that my second cousins and great Uncle got to see it and have a copy of it for their own families. That's what I love so much about the internet... it opens so many doors that would always have been closed or very hard to open before it!

And I've also gone on a big journey of discovery regarding my grandfather and grandmother on my paternal side of late and found out so much fascinating and incredible information. I'm trying to collate it all and get it organised so I can post it all on here for my relatives in Sydney and Qld.. as well as for my own son and nephews and nieces so they'll have a written record online to see when they're older.

(click on photo to view larger)

I'm starting to go pink mad!

2011-07-18T14:38:00.010+10:00

If you'd said to me five years ago that in five years you'd be a pink fiend I'd have laughed at you... but here I am ... Pip...pink obsessed!

This seems to be recurring theme in my life of late... I'm doing so many things I never thought I'd have been doing years ago... but am loving every minute of it!!

I've been purchasing pink party everything for the last 6 months to use for promoting many of my pink stationery designs... and just hoping that I'd have a reason to have a nothing but pink party some day soon!!! Luckily my Mum is turning 60 this year and we're holding a great big party for her... because... it turns out... in all her 60 years she's never been thrown a really big party! I feel sad just writing that! So we want to make it as special as we possibly can... and all this pink I've been going crazy for is going to come to good use... mixed with some other soft colors... it should hopefully look a treat!

And I do have to say... it's all thanks to all the marvellous and beautiful parties I see on the web... you're all my biggest inspiration!

Thank you!

I'm off to dream more pink! :)

My First Foray into Fondant

2011-07-18T11:30:00.001+10:00

If you'd said 'Pip' and 'baking' in the same sentence 3 months ago I would've laughed! I have never pictured myself as a Mummy baker and I think what mostly put me off was my disaster of a cake I tried to make for our boy's 1st birthday party! Basically I did everything wrong that you could do wrong and I was turned off cake making for what I thought would be forever!

That is until I was inspired by all the incredible cake makers around the world (including my own sister in law) that I've had the pleasure of viewing of late through making all my party inspiration spotlight pages... so much so that I've been inspired to 'have another go'!!

Especially I must thank Tracy (Sweet Treacle) and Vanessa (Bella Cupcakes) for giving me the most inspiration of all!

So my first foray into cake making was 2 dozen spiderman cupcakes I decided to make for little man's last day of school! And of course me being me... I dug a hole for myself when deciding that I'd do chocolate toppers! I had oval chocolate moulds so I made red chocolate heads and decided I'd pipe black chocolate webbing and eyes on them!

Well now I know why it takes master chefs to create beautiful piped chocolate dessert designs cause piping chocolate is bloody hard!! Out of all 24 spiderman heads I think about 3 were semi ok ... enough to really recognise they were spiderman!! :) The rest were completely demented! Luckily kids don't really care 'bout demented spiderman heads and happily feasted on the treats. My son was so cute when he arrived at school with a big smile on his face holding the treats ready and willing to hand them out. Was a very sweet thing to see.

I think it was seeing my boys face that gave me the drive to keep going. I went to my local cake shop and decided fondant characters were my next try! Wish I'd done that first... it was like I was back in primary school making plasticine figures... I just loved it!

I made a whole batch of Gumby and friends fondant cupcake toppers for my brother's birthday. For as long as I can remember he's been a gumby fan so it was the perfect idea for cupcake toppers and cause they're an animated plasticine show it was really the perfect thing to make with fondant!!

So I had a ball and the cupcakes were a big hit with brother and especially with the little ones! They were running round the house on a sugar high all night!

Which way to go with alcohol?

2011-07-15T16:42:00.002+10:00

So I'm completely excited that my brother and sister and I get to plan and organize my Mum's 60th party this year. I can't say too much here in case it gets back to her cause we want it to stay as much of a surprise for her as possible. She knows about the party but doesn't know the details.

Since I found out about the brilliant concept that is the new modern take on jelly alcohol shots I've been dying to have a go.

So I've been searching the awesome Test Kitchen blog trying to decide which recipe to go for...

I can't decide between...

maybe both? I like these most cause of the flavours, the ease of making and the colours to match my dessert table.

Actually... I think I might enlist sister's help for this... I bet she'd love to make alcoholic jelly shots... I hope... better go ask her first!

People's Essentials - Photography Series

2011-07-04T17:32:00.001+10:00

Just stumbled upon this awesome series by artist Jason Travis.

Started in 2007 it was originally for Travis, a way to get to know old and new friends... to find out what people find essential to carry with them all the time.

Years later and many dozens of people photographed later... you can wade through this awesome series to see exactly what it is people keep in their bags! Some are so interesting... some are hilarious pisstakes!

And Jason has just begun doing them in video form which I'm very excited about... I'll be watching him for sure!!

I'm an instant Pierces fan!

2011-06-25T10:39:00.000+10:00

Thanks to my beautiful friend Sas for introducing me to these gorgeous women!!

How I Make Money Working From Home

2011-06-04T18:57:00.001+10:00

It's been over 15 years now that I've worked on computers pretty much every day of my working life and I feel I've learned an incredible amount in that time.

I feel very blessed that I can now earn a living working from home doing what I do. And I enjoy it so much that I sometimes feel guilty for enjoying my job so much... kind of like it should feel like more of a chore from time to time.

As you already know I design for my Online Pip Pip Hooray Stationery Business... but you most likely also didn't know that I've been diversifying my income over the past 6 months, building my affiliate marketing earnings.

If you've never heard of Affiliate marketing or if you have and have always wondered how it works... I've written a step by step visual guide of how to do it on zazzle (now the biggest Print on Demand Online Shopping Site in the World).

I spent a very long time writing this to make sure it's as clear and as easy to understand as possible. I initially created it for friends and family who I wanted to share these tips with so they could hopefully earn some money on the side doing it. Also because they would ask me how they could help promote my products. This way, through affiliate marketing (which is also called referrals & referring) they can promote my designs using their own special code and then if anyone buys one of my designs through their recommendation... they earn a whole 15% of the sale/s! I've seen people earn over $35 USD from one invitation sale through my store!!

This guide is the kind of guide that most others on the internet would try and make you pay for. But I want to share it with everyone! To give everyone else the chance to earn money on the internet if they have the passion and desire for it! So click on the image below to view the full page of instructions and tips.

I really hope many of you find it useful.

Would love to hear from you too if you feel inclined.

Pip ♥

CLICK ON BELOW LINK (example image from the tutorial)

Pink Party Ideas Galore!!

2011-06-04T16:11:00.001+10:00

Hi Everyone,
I know it's been a long time since I've done my blogging thing and I'm sorry for that!

But I'm here to share with you my newest page I wrote with bundles of ideas and inspiration for gorgeous PINK parties!!

I tried to find all the most contemporary, the most chic, the most gorgeous pink party ideas and products on the net!

The page includes everything.... cake ideas, pink party food ideas, pink party games, pink decorations, pink invitations, pink party ware... EVERYTHING!

Pip's Pink Party Ideas - CLICK HERE

I do hope this inspires you to take a look. And I hope if you like it enough and find it useful enough, you'll share it.

I'm having a special Pip Pip Hooray Pink Party soon... so be ready for heaps of photo's coming soon!! :)

My Designs Featured in the Home Magazine

2011-05-07T11:56:00.002+10:00

I couldn't be more thrilled today! The Home Magazine dedicated a full page to my wall decal sticker range available through the Wall Sticker Company!

Click on the article to be taken to the whole range.

Or click below to view Pip Pip Hooray's Stationery Online Shop

Our Shark Adventure

2011-04-10T15:04:00.001+10:00

Our boy is shark mad at present. He's a funny kid cause he manages to move from subject to subject and each time it's a new subject it's almost an obsession for him (*ahem* not at all like his mother!! noooo!) He talks, thinks, reads, watches, does whatever he can on the newest subject/obsession. So we've all been a little shark mad of late along with him.

This was our second visit to the Melbourne Aquarium since he was born... the first time he was so young he didn't really appreciate it for what it was.

This time... his focus was ONLY to see the sharks... so much so that he wanted to zoom past every other exhibit just to get to the sharks!!

Then... once there he was adamant that I take a photo of him with a shark! Yes... you read right :) So below you'll see my best efforts at getting a photo of him with a shark.

I had fun with Mum & Dad's new digital SLR camera... taking lots of snaps on the day. Below are the one's I think turned out the most decent.

My highlight and favourite part of the whole day was definitely the penguins!! I know now why they're called KING emperor penguins because they definitely do command majestic like awe.. well from me anyway!

All in all... a truly brilliant day!

Poppy purchased Kane a little shark... and his Daddy and I purchased a stuffed soft toy Shark for the little man afterward (cause we wouldn't have heard the end of it otherwise) :) and that softie has now been his little best friend since. He takes it to bed... he's taken it to school 'show and tell'... he carries it wherever he can!

Don't you just love kids!!

Our little guy is honestly the light in my entire life!!

All photo's above are copyright Pip Gerard 2011.

You may use on blogs/articles so long as each is linked back to this blog with credit given.

Not for any commercial use whatsoever.

New Fashion Homewares Retail Store Design

2011-03-12T16:04:00.001+11:00

My sister in law, Danika Gerard manages a gorgeous shop on Main Street, Mornington, Victoria called Lola's. Her Mum bought the place not too long ago (she already owns quite a few homeware shops around the Peninsula too) and needed a logo for the shop.

It's a beautiful fashion & homewares store with gorgeous product throughout.

I was quite chuffed when they asked if I'd have a go at designing the logo. It's definitely not my forte but wanted to try for them.

They gave me their ideas of the style they wanted and I created about 20 slightly different and varied designs for them to choose from.

Here's the final result. Can't tell you how giddy I felt to see a design I created so big and bold like this!

They're very happy with it which makes me very happy.

It's a stunning shop, especially one for us Ladies... so if you get to Main Street Mornington... make sure to drop in.

♥

My HUGE Announcement

2011-03-04T14:37:00.004+11:00

I can finally announce my biggest of BIG news!!

The reason why I've been Blog AWOL of late is I've been caught up preparing for the release of my Signature Range for a truly fabulous company called The Wall Sticker Company.

My life has taken such a beautiful and happy turn with this new venture... and I'm honestly feeling like I'm living my dreams at the moment.

Not only that but I've met some really special ladies who inspire me so much! Two other Aussie Mum's who have founded & created this fabulous company!

So here's my Pip Pip Hooray Designer Decal Range.... consisting of 8 different designs in a range of styles and colours.

I really wanted to do my painted designs as wall stickers to see how they'd look. Kind of like having a mural painted in your house without having the actual artist and paint :)

They work perfectly with these top quality decals which are the highest quality re-usable fabric adhesives that can be moved and re-used over and over.

Available in both pink and orange

Available in XTRA large and Medium size.

Starfish are available in oranges, blues and pinks.

This wedding photo image is a sample of how I can make a custom

sticker for your wedding with either the green watercolour tree

or the Autumn colored watercolour tree.

I would add the initials and heart onto the tree prior to printing.

My fingers and toes are crossed that they're a popular success so I may get the opportunity to do more.

My wonderful friend Melissa Otto let me take photo's of her home and beautiful children and I'm so thankful to them for that help. Madison especially is an adorable feature of the styling photo's (you can see her feature in three of the photo's).

You can buy them online and delivery is available worldwide!

My Lil' Sonny Sky Commission

2011-01-25T19:38:00.004+11:00

It took a lot of self will to hold back posting about this earlier than this cause I was just so excited about it!

I found Lisa Stubbs before Christmas from browsing through other blogs I'd followed. I was immediately struck by her designs and went straight to have a look at her Etsy shop. I really loved one particular design and immediately wondered whether she'd be willing to do a custom design similar. I wrote to her and of course she was wonderfully willing and so began our exciting partnership.

I requested a similar design but with the girl having blonde hair and inside the thought bubble I hoped to see art supplies... hearts, birds, trees and strawberries cause they were things I loved and drew most often.
She was incredibly communicative and constantly kept me in the loop and up to date with how it was going. She sent me her initial sketch which got me all goosebumpy ... I was absolutely thrilled!!

Lisa also asked whether I had any special requests for wording to be added to the thought bubble which I thought was such a gorgeous idea. I asked her to add my son's nickname which is Noosh as well as the number 2421 which is a number my partner created & wrote to me when we'd been together for only 6 months over 12 years ago. He said it stood for us and he's always written and said it at the end of notes to me since. I use it back to him too.

It stands for 2gether 4ever 2gether as 1.

So now I really felt like this gorgeous piece of art was a real representation of me! It was a representative portrait of me thinking about all the things I think about most... my son, my man and my art! ♥

I adored the colour pattern she chose for the clothing... especially since my online store has such a pink flavour.

On the original inspired piece I'd seen in Lisa's store it had a very funky demin background. And in light of the recent custom changes she'd made... the more I thought about this piece and how it was becoming a symbol of me the more I realised I felt it wouldn't be right to have denim as a part of it. Because you see... I don't wear denim (I can hear you gasping from here!)

I just don't...not because I don't like it... I ..... just. ... don't wear it.

I honestly hoped I wasn't going to offend by subtley asking for something other than denim for the background but Lisa was wonderfully and positively responsive to my request.

She knew that it wasn't that I didn't like a denim background... it was just that it didn't make sense to me when seen as a representation of me.

So she sent me through 4 choices which I thought was just such a wonderful thing to do because I was happy to go with any alternative she chose.

I went with the gorgeous polka dots and just a couple of day's later I received the email from Lisa to say it's finished.

So now I just have to patiently await for it's arrival from the mother country all the way to Oz! :)

It was nothing but pure pleasure working with Lisa and I cannot reccomend her highly enough to you all! She's a brilliant artist/designer with talent coming out of her every pore! If you haven't checked out her blog already... then you simply must here

Etsy Finds - Handmade in Italy by Contemori

2011-01-19T08:41:00.001+11:00

via etsy.com

Could these items be any cuter?
All adorably hand made by a craft artisan in Italy!
If I had a baby I just know I'd be splurging on at least one of these!
I especially like the personalized wall hanging that can be made into whatever letter we like.
Things like these just make me feel all soft inside and out :)

Queensland Floods - how we can help

2011-01-15T13:57:00.002+11:00

If you're an Australian... you know the floods are our main subject topic of late.. if you're overseas... you may have had a glimpse on your news... or perhaps you're none the wiser.

In the north eastern part of Australia... the area called Brisbane, Queensland... areas bigger than France and Germany combined have been flooded.
Luckily all my family from these parts are ok.

So many were not so lucky at all.

So a friend just shared this on facebook and I thought I'd post it here. It's a page that gives plenty of options for those who wish to help.

They're asking for funds to re-build which makes sense.

The overwhelming message from charities and relief funds is that money is the best way to help in a crisis like this.

Here's the page that lists all the donation areas to contact.

Be an Optimist Prime...

2011-01-14T08:37:00.001+11:00

♥ I LOVE THIS......

via fc05.deviantart.net

Etsy Find - Best Flower Girl Dress I've ever seen!

2011-01-13T13:53:00.001+11:00

via etsy.com

Would you just look at these stunning flower girl dresses! I am completely in love with them!

Honestly I would so have these as flower girl dresses... they're the best I've ever seen!

I am just so so smitten with the dress... and that little girl is just scrumptious too :)

Via the incredibly talented etsy seller - Trendie Treasures (click on photo's to view)

I have died and gone to cookie heaven!!

2011-01-09T15:28:00.000+11:00

I've always had this unbelievable passion... almost obsession for all things New York! I've made my partner promise that we will get there within the next 10 years... that's how big the passion/obsession is! :)

And just now I came across this website purely by accident! And it makes me want to visit NY all the more!!

In fact... it even just makes me want to be an American cause they only deliver in the states!

These are not cookies... they absolute works of art!!!

Wouldn't they just make the perfect gifts?

P.S - I just had another look and seems the cookies stay fresh for up to 2 months so seems sending them to Australia is not completely out of the question! I'm going to look into it! Have to keep these in mind for my business cause I've used cookies in my promotion photo's before (below) ... I do love them so!

The Dalai Lama says...

2011-01-06T22:41:00.000+11:00

This is my new all time favourite quote!

I love this quote so much and want to share it with absolutely everyone that has yet to read this quote... so much so that I created this poster for the quote to share on the internet!

Please feel free to post it on your blogs, websites, facebooks, twitters... (just do not sell or use commercially)... no need to link back to me (although you know I'd love it if you did) ♥♥

share it everywhere!!!...

it's a quote worth sharing... don't you think? :)

Stop Motion Music Vid

2011-01-06T21:54:00.000+11:00

This shows you can do amazing things with little money... just a lot of time, patience & creativity!

Took 12 tries to get it taken all in one long continuous stop motion shot!

Song is called Americanarama by Hollerado

My first foray into video!

2011-01-06T15:01:00.001+11:00

I've made my first video to highlight a small selection of stationery I created that's available for sale in my store.

Do you have any ideas or suggestions as to where I could be posting it on the web. I'm not very big on youtube so anyone with tips, ideas and experience would be so hugely beneficial.

eLegs - Bionic Legs for Wheelchair Users - Now this is brilliant!

2010-12-29T23:56:00.000+11:00

The hope this must give paraplegics!

These are the kind of leaps in Science that make me feel proud to be human.

Free Fun Online Flash Games - Wanna Play?

2010-12-27T17:07:00.001+11:00

I Just put together a post for all the great free online flash games I've found over the years.

If people like the list enough I'll keep adding.

Click on the image below to check out all the groovy games! For all ages! No downloading required... they all play straight on your browser (no blatant advertising on any either!) ... I can guarantee you'll enjoy quite a few so have a looksee :)

Kindergarten Christmas Concert

2010-12-23T11:56:00.003+11:00

Kane's Kindergarten Christmas concert was a display of cuteness upon cuteness!

His role was one of the 'Wise Men' and his line was to say "I bring you gold" which he did beautifully.. but only loud enough for the front row to hear :)

I will cherish the memories and photograph's of this one and only moment in my son's life!

Here he is walking out with the rest of the 'cast' to take their places and that's his Poppy that he's waving to :)

In front of his friend Jordan the gorgeous little Christmas Star!

The 3 buds

I was so proud of him... he seemed so confident & relaxed in front of all the people with their gazillion cameras (kept thinking of parenthood... you know when all the cameras go up in unision as the kids concert starts) :)

Proud Grandparents. I was so very thankful and happy they could make it. (check out the squashed ears) :)

Kane treated us to an improvised re-enactment of the whole Mary & Joseph scene that he'd obviously memorized through watching all the practice sessions.. though he threw in a little 'Kane' creative flavour - very cute.

Kane and I will definitely miss his fantastic teachers... sad to be saying good-bye.

Our little munchkin on the mushroom.

Art on my Walls...

2010-12-19T20:27:00.002+11:00

(click to view larger images)

This is a very nostalgically special framed photograph print for me (if you've read some of this blog... you'll know I'm a sucker for nostalgia).

I remember my folks being given it by one of my oldest brother's mates (who I remember was a Chef) when I was around 11 (for what reason I'm not sure) but growing up... this picture was a constant in my life and it still makes me feel good to have it still as a constant in my life today. I've always seen it as a really uplifting and positive image... the children coming out of the dark into the light.

This is my newest painting acquisition from a fellow artist I met on Red Bubble.

I fell in love with it and was extremely lucky to get it... It's just so me... I adore it!!

Her name is Carmen Cilliers.... you can see her wonderful work "here".

My Aunty is a fabulous artist... she's been painting for most of her life.

She did a duo exhibition with my Mum a few years back where she shipped many of her works from Brisbane to Melbourne for the exhibition.

After the exhibition ended she told me to choose a painting for me to keep. I cannot tell you how thrilled it made me... honestly... my whole insides were like jumping beans... I was just so very very excited!! I felt just so special and happy ... I absolutely adore her style and her work.... always have!

Of her paintings in the gallery... this was the one that really stood out to me and spoke to me personally.

I'll forever be so thankful to my beautiful Aunty Chris for this painting... it is honestly one of the best gifts I have EVER received. She's such an incredibly special lady... I admire her so very very much!

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I also have my own work and photography, My Dad's photo's .... as well as a lot of my Mum's art hanging in my house which I will photograph and show in the near future.

Pip x

I would love to see what's hanging on your walls... maybe photograph some of your art/photography on the walls and link it in the comments below?

I've Gone Tiki...

2010-12-19T11:17:00.000+11:00

My newest vector design completed yesterday.

For BBQ's, Hawaiian Themed, Luau type parties & events. Will be adding heaps more party favors, stickers etc in store very soon.

Banner/Poster Decoration Below (Available in HUGE size!)

Put whatever text you like in it's mouth easily....

Bath-Tub

2010-12-19T08:08:00.000+11:00

Just Incredible!!

Credit is not the answer

2010-12-17T21:40:00.004+11:00

OK... I"m about to get all passionate and perhaps even overbearing... so please bear with me! :) This is purely my opinion from my own experiences and lessons through my life this far. I'm no financial expert... this is all based purely on my own thoughts and opinion.

Now I'm one that is usually pretty easy going.. not much phases me... but when things do phase me... well they usually phase me in a HUGE, passionate, overwhelming way!!

Credit and Banks are such things that REALLY affect me!!

And the latest world financial crisis has just affected me even more to the point where I've just recently decided it's time I spoke my mind on this blog platform of mine!

First...
please, please, please... take the time to watch this fantastic video that manages to explain the latest US financial mortgage crisis in such a clear, easy to understand way for everybody to easily & clearly understand it!!

Moral of this brilliant video - Do Not buy a house OR get any Credit/Loans.... when we KNOW we cannot afford it.

Moral to Big businesses/banks/organisations...... don't sell houses or Credit to those you KNOW cannot afford it!!! (and we all know you're doing it... not sure how you live with yourselves... oh that's right... you just spend the money you earned from it to buy something to take your mind of it!!)

I've decided to send a plea out to the universe via this blog right here and now.....

Please... it's time for everyone to realise that credit doesn't only affect yourself and your family directly.. it affects our whole community and economy!

I saw it happen to an old neighbour of ours... in a block of flats Luke and I lived in years back.... they were easily conned into getting a home in a 'so called' suburbia dreamscape, a new residential estate (you know the one's where the houses all look the same, where happy people on bikes ride around man made lakes) with one of those 'too good to be true' house deals... no deposit... no re-payments for a year... all that garbage!!

They lost EVERYTHING including their marriage! Came out backwards with far less than they went in with! Just devastating!!

I'll admit... I've had many a day since having my son and starting my business where I've thought that a credit card would be fantastic... I've even come close to filling out an application... because it would just make things so much easier then and there... take a bit of the stress or pressure off... let me buy that big ticket item for my business that I can't pay for at that moment.

But then I realise... in the long run it will only double/triple/quadruple the stress and pressure when I can't pay it back and when the interest just keeps getting heaped on!

I'm so very very thankful for learning my lesson early in life when I was a teenager (by making the stupid mistake of maxing out my credit card when only 19 years old and having to pay it back for years afterward).

You see money burns a whole in my pocket... If I've got it... I pretty much always spend it on things I'm sure we/I need (when in reality we could make do without). I enjoy shopping many a time (not clothes shopping though... more like craft, stationery & art shopping) .. and I come away from buying for others always feeling fabulous.

So I know that I should not have a credit card cause I'd get us into all sorts of financial debt no doubt!

I've heard other people kid themselves by saying having a credit card is for security... for when the water heater breaks or the car breaks down... they say having it there is a lifesaver? Well that's all well and good for the credit card Superheroes who never use it unless it's an emergency or are somehow able to pay back their credit superfast, while paying hardly any interest, if any at all...

But we know ourselves ... don't we? :) If you're like me (which I'm pretty sure so many of your are) ... then you'll find a way to make it ok in your head ... usually spending some of the cash burning a hole in your pocket before handing it over as a credit card payment... or by telling yourself it's ok to buy that gorgeous shiny thing on said credit card that you hadn't budgeted for... just because you can! And let's not even talk about having to go shopping to buy something shiny and new because it makes us feel good inside and let's us get through the day not thinking about the darkness in this world of ours... no.... we won't go there... will we??!! ;)

So of course.... payments to the credit company become less than expected/budgeted... therefore the interest increases.... And the cycle begins!!

Then not only will we heap on the debt.. but then there's the guilt and shame of having that debt that we have to then carry on our shoulders!

Credit is NOT and will NOT ever be the answer!! It's the answer for all the really rich people and banks... not because they have credit but cause they're making a fortune from us by selling it to us and making us the believe that credit is the way to go for everyone!!

Lets think about the future of ourselves... our children... our country and then think about cutting up those cards and getting used to not buying things whenever we like. Get used to knowing that if we run out of money for the week/month then we've run out of money and then we have to make do...which will most likely stop ourselves from running out of money next time!

The banks aren't going to do it for us... if we think they're not going to give us a loan or card if we couldn't possibly afford it... think again!!

To those that are already money and credit sensible... I say ... give yourselves a huge pat on the back... cause there aint many of you.

Thanks for letting me have a vent!...

I feel so much better now :)

A Village Christmas.

2010-12-17T09:28:00.000+11:00

Would you just look at this photograph... if this was the site in my neck of the woods I think I'd have to pinch myself to make sure it was real!!

I found this beautiful photo that just ooozed the Christmas Spirit (like the kind I only see in movies) on my newest blog to follow "here" . The blog writer... Bobbi... took this photo herself!

Doesn't it make you just want to curl up on the couch with an egg nog and hum a christmas carol? ;)

More Vintage Family Treasure

2010-12-16T15:09:00.007+11:00

Of course while I was treasure hunting (and found "this") I also came across more fabulous photo's from our Family and I just had to scan them (mostly to ensure their posterity).

Here's the wonderful treasures I found...

That's my Grandpa George's writing on the photo (I'm pretty sure) so this wonderful old man must either be his Great Grandfather... or my Dad's Great Grandfather.

Either way... he's "at least" my Great Great Grandfather!

I wish I was more sure though... so perhaps members of the family might be able to confirm?

Speaking of Gramps and Dad... here they are in a wonderful portrait together when Dad was a boy.

I remember when I looked at this with Dad once, he told me that it was around that time his Dad always called him Butch. :)

Here's an absolutely adorable photo of Dad's sister... my Aunty Jen. I just love this photo.

What a pretty little girl!

And on the maternal side...

The tiny little cherub on the far end of the table is Mum (Lorna Gerard nee Voorhoeve).

The stunning little girl closest .... with the big blue eyes is Mum's Sis, My Aunty Chris.

Aunty Julie is the tallest and oldest sis in the middle.

The little baby in the high chair and other little girl on the other side of the table are other little one's that Mum told me about once and I can't remember... so will have to ask her again.

I just love the little bucket with the toy washing 'presser' (I think that's what they were called) at the end of the table. And look at the spread these girls put on for themselves... gorgeous kids fun!

Vintage Treasure

2010-12-16T14:38:00.000+11:00

Looking through our old family photo's (yet again!!) I found this treasure!

I was completely entranced and intrigued by this photograph... on the back written Enfield Car Shed, 1911.

I did a bit of research on the internet and at first I thought this would have been connected to the old NSW Tram lines... but further reading and I realised I believe it's a Car Shed for the NSW Train Line.

I'm not even sure if there's a relative of our's in the photo... perhaps Dad or Mum will be able to help me out with that?

(click on photo to view larger)

Mister 6's Super Mario Bros Party!

2010-12-14T20:46:00.013+11:00

Talk of a 'Mario Bros Party' had been the topic of my 6 year old's words and questions for at least the past 2 months!! (ever since he received his Nintendo DS). I'm not kidding... most mornings the first words out of his mouth were. "Mario Party?" with his big brown eyes looking up at me like a pleading little puppy... and I had to crush him each time with "No not today sweety.... soon". Times like those it's so hard that kids don't have a proper sense of time.

Next time I'm going to do a calendar with a number count down... I think that will help.

So the build up to this event was like a huge hyped hollywood blockbuster in our household... and I was getting a little nervous that it wasn't going to come anywhere near his expectations... until a Mum from Kinder reminded me of the coolest Kids party centre this side of Victoria that was a 20 minute drive from where we lived. And the decision was then easily made!! It was to be a small party... cause the cost per child was pretty high ... but if I figured if I kept the kid numbers low it evens out about the same as what I'd end up spending on food, drinks etc. on a bigger party anyway. So Kane chose a few good buddies to be invited.... and of course his nephews and niece were on the party list.

The beautiful part about the party was... the only thing I had to do was the lolly bags! Actually I didn't even really have to do that if I didn't want cause the centre gave each kid an ice cream and a bag of lollies... but I couldn't help myself... lolly bags are the funnest thing about party planning I reckon! I'm going to sound sad I think... when I say I have a party box that sits in a cupboard that I fill up throughout the year with bargain little novelties and fun things for Kane's parties. I had quite a collection accrued this year... including wads of fake money/notes, yo-yo's, bubble finger rings, tattoos, stickers, mini paint sets and more.

Overall... the hyped up Mario Party was all so easy.... I didn't even have to do the invites if I didn't want... cause they were going to provide them... but of course me being me... I just had to make the Mario one's below which got Kane even more excited & Mario Party 'hyped' when he first saw them.

And I've made one just for you!!! :)

You can print this out and then just write your own details on it. Or open it in your editing software and add your own text then print!! Couldn't be easier... and cheaper :)

OR save it to your own computer... add the text and re-save... then send it as a jpeg file to you all friends through email if you don't have the time to mail them out.

JUST CLICK ON THE IMAGE BELOW TO BE TAKEN TO FLICKR TO DOWNLOAD. (OR YOU CAN RIGHT CLICK AND SAVE AS OR PRINT FROM HERE)

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So the morning of the party... We got up at normal time... no rushing round cooking and preparing! All I did was blow up some foil star balloons (I'd prepared the kit bags days before) ... now I tell you... that's my kind of kids party!! :)

It was a brilliant day... Kane was red faced and sweaty all day from running around getting in as much fun as possible in the time allowed. In fact we let him and one of his Kindergarten buddies stay and play for over another hour after the party ended cause they were just having so much fun!

To see the smile on Kane's face just made me feel better than anything in the world! He has a way of joy smiling when he's really happy in a moment... and when I see that... well I find there's absolutely no better feeling!!

Little Ruby... wonder girl... I swear she has more balls than most boys! She was up and down the giant slide over and over and over without the slightest bit of doubt and fear. And the most adorable thing was everytime she went down the slide... her hair would fly back like little pig tail wings!

This place is just unreal... any kids that wanted their face painted or to have special glitter tattoo's could have them (all part of the party package).

They even had an art room where kids could draw if they wanted (although they were all too happy in the playground to bother).

And my life was made even easier when my sister in law made the coolest cake on the planet!!

Just look at this absolutely fantastic cake!! (and it was delicious too!)

Ruby...ever the little sweet helper... helped Kane cut the cake. (and I noticed picked up a bit of icing on the way back up) :)

At the end of the day Kane said out of nowhere... "Best Day Ever"... and my heart felt so full it could burst.

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Some of my Red Bubble Art.

2010-12-13T14:50:00.001+11:00

If you like the look of my art here... please go here :)

Faith in Love

2010-12-11T22:45:00.000+11:00

Pip's Journal - Part 5

2010-12-10T22:26:00.001+11:00

Another photographed page from my journal/moleskin.

I finished the tree with inks then realised I'd done it upside down inside the book! - ooops.

One Year of Growth

2010-12-10T16:17:00.000+11:00

A year of growth in all kinds of ways... facial hair, maturity, wisdom, spiritually and.... it seems through love...

I just happily came across this video and loved it so much that I just had to share!!

November 9th 2007 - November 13th 2008

one year on foot - 4646km through China by Christoph Rehage

Here's his travel diary website which covers the whole journey in much more detail : http://www.thelongestway.com/

I'm an addict...

2010-12-09T22:05:00.003+11:00

..... a stationery addict...

and a big one!

This photo I took in Officeworks the other day I think gives concise and clear reasoning for my addiction without any more words required!

Pip's Blog Button

2010-12-09T21:23:00.000+11:00

Adrienne requested a Pip Pip Hooray blog button as she very kindly offered to put it on her blog.

I hadn't got around to creating one yet but this was the push I so very needed.

A little confusion & trial and error later... I'd created my very own Pip Pip Hooray Blog Linky Thing for sidebars.

Of course anyone else out there who wants to share the Pip Pip Hooray love on their blogs are so very very welcome and appreciatively encouraged :)

Random Pip Pip Hooray!

2010-12-08T23:01:00.005+11:00

I just randomly went through my store and made a selection of some of my products to show you here.
Of course... all these (and more) can be found for sale in my Pip Pip Hooray Store :)

Abstract Pattern Fine Art Painting iPad Cover Gift by Pip_Gerard

Red Black Tree Fine Art Designer Name Protector by Pip_Gerard

Red Tree Fine Art Painting Designer Cool Case by Pip_Gerard

Vintage Pattern Damask Designer Monogram Case by Pip_Gerard

Baby Girl Pink Painted Fine Art Photo Frame by Pip_Gerard

Tangerine Dream 3 Ring Recipe Book Binder by Pip_Gerard

Chocolate Retro Trees Name Custom Photo Album by Pip_Gerard

Foodies Personalized Name Recipe Clippings Binder by Pip_Gerard

Mommy & Baby Owl Nursery Kids Room Wall Poster by Pip_Gerard

SECLUSION VECTOR DRAWING ART PRINT by Pip_Gerard

Funky Retro Owl Illustration Designer Protector by Pip_Gerard

Kitschy Collage Colossal Poster Wall Art by Pip_Gerard

Black & White Love Heart Shape Design by Pip_Gerard

Owl Tree Baby Nursery Kids Room Wall Poster by Pip_Gerard

Nature Floral Vector Designer iPhone Protector by Pip_Gerard

Thought it apt with Chrissie coming up... hope you don't mind that I do a bit of self promoting 'blah blah' every so often... you know.. mouths to feed and all that :)

Pip ♥

Rock Concert for Pre Schoolers.

2010-12-06T16:00:00.001+11:00

Yesterday was a hot day spent inside a hot arena watching what I call... rock'n'roll for preschoolers!

My boy's highlight was sitting in the 'real' big red car for all of 30 seconds having the photo below taken.

Going to their live shows really shows why they've been the no.1 kids entertainment for so long.. if I compare them to Hi 5, Lazytown or Thomas live shows... they come out way on top!

Roses - a metaphor for love.

2010-12-04T17:11:00.006+11:00

I was inspired to post this by the lovely Adrienne who was actually the first blogger I came across that I'd not known previously... when I first started blogging.

I love the way she lives.. I love the way she thinks...

I do believe we have a lot in common.

Check out her fabulous blog :)

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Pip's View on Roses

I came to the conclusion not too long ago that roses may be considered the most romantic flowers in the world because metaphorically they're a symbol of love.

I realised that....

Roses... though considered by the majority as the most beautiful flowers in the world... at the same time they can also be the most painful with those thorns to inflict pain on touch.

Just as Love... can be the most beautiful and incredible feeling in the world... at the same time it can also be the most painful.

This thought was what inspired me to do my Rose Hearts series of designs.

See all my Rose Heart Designs here.

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

M.I.L.K Moments

2010-11-29T13:59:00.001+11:00

Inspired by 'Absolute Novice's' Blog Post I went to see M.I.L.K's latest collection and was so happily surprised by the photo's.

I had planned to enter this competition but fate had other plans.

To me this kind of photography is the best... capturing the rawness of humanity in candid moments is a true thing to treasure!

Love, connection, relationship, all captured in moments. Just so very beautiful.

M.I.L.K Gallery

M.I.L.K

Afghan, Sunset & Nudie Run!!

2010-11-26T23:37:00.001+11:00

Lovely day today!!

Played lots of lego in the morning at the insistence of the boy.

Then Spidey and I headed to my brother's new place to check it out for the first time. A gorgeous new pad for their family.

Then we headed to Mornington with the folks for scrumptious Afghan food - was truly de-licious!!

Went for a walk after dinner down the foreshore and were treated to....

Breathtaking Sunsets

and

Nudie Runs!!!

We really got to see mother nature in all it's BARE Glory!!

80s Toy Fun!

2010-11-25T14:27:00.010+11:00

There really is nothing like the memories of childhood is there? I think the older we get... the more we tend to turn our childhood memories into magical fairytale like thoughts... I know for myself.. memories of my childhood are just ever so sweet and wonderful. In fact I use any excuse to get all nostalgic and reminiscise as often as possible! Hence this blog post :)

For fun.. I went looking for pictures of the toys I can remember me or my siblings having as a kid... and I found heaps of them!

But let's start by setting the scene...

Here's standout fashion crazes that I remember wearing in the 80s!!

JELLY SHOES!! Sometimes with the flouro socks on as well! (gasp!)

And Jelly Shoes went so well with balloon or Ra Ra skirts.

And I had a selection of these plastic baskets as my must have accessory at around 10! Perfect to fit all my lace ribbons and extra flouro socks!!

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So now for the Gerard toy selection.. thought I'd start with the one's I remember owning first (in no particular order).

The Family Treehouse was a gift to my brother and I when I was about 4, and he 3. We so loved that thing with it's little elevator from ground level to top! (I remember I wished back then that we could live in a tree with an elevator in the trunk... even though the logistics of that in reality are completely impossible... to a kid...this kind of thing is magic!)

It was so magical and we loved it so much so... that when I found an old crusty, completely naked, broken up version in an op shop last year I nearly wet my pants!

And...here is the champion of ALL pre-school toys in my opinion! The Fisher Price Sesame Street Clubhouse!

We still have ours at Mum & Dad's house... a little wrinkly around the sticker edges... but still the favourite toy of choice by every single Grandchild! (I kid you not... we couldn't even count the amount of hours every single grandchild has spent on the clubhouse!)

With over 10 different actions for kids to do this really is the dreamhouse for pre-schoolers!

I even went and bought a vintage one in near immaculate condition from the U.S for my boy years back and it's been his joy toy for years too! So there's one at home and one at Grammy & Poppy's house!

Why oh why do they not make toys like they used to?

Fisher Price... pleeease get rid of the batteries and look back to your 80s toys for inspiration - there's absolutely no need for batteries if you do them right... parents will love you for it!!

My Fisher Price record player was a prized possession! Just a simple wind up toy with chimes. So simple and so loved!

I still have it... minus 2 of the records. Doesn't sound as good as it used to that's for sure!

Another wonderful sound toy WITHOUT batteries! :)

Still have my Fisher Price Circus Train too... but with only the clown left... all the rest of the characters & animals have dissapeared over the years :(

I truly thought I was the $hit when Dad bought this home from a trip to America! He made me feel like the luckiest girl in Australia when he told me they're weren't available for sale here in Oz! (Dad was a toy buyer for Venture in the early 80s... then a toy & sports creator for Super Action... then finally created his own Toy company before moving into the book industry. So of course with a Dad in the toy industry when you're a kid.... you can imagine we were a little extra spoiled when it came to toys because as part of his business free samples were the norm... of course it was pure heaven for us kids!

So Yep... you're seeing right... It is really a Barbie Mcdonalds... with little cheeseburgers, thickshakes & fries! The burgers came in pieces, two buns, meat and cheese and you put them all inside the burger containers and then closed them up. I even had miniature brown trays, thickshakes, fries & little digital cash registers!

Another minor obsession of my childhood - The Fraggles!!

All began with Dad... he bought home a sample video of the show before it aired.

I do admit... I was completely in love with all things Muppets and Jim Henson as a kid.. still am really.

One thing I could never understand... was how the Doozers never took a break! I mean why would they want to work when they can see the Fraggles having so much fun... just didn't make sense to me?

Glo Worm...

think I might have hugged mine into a suffocation coma!

He spent the remainder of his comatosed life in my Antique baby cot that sat in the corner of my pink room until he went to charity land.

Ahhh the Poochie Stamper. My prized possession for many months of my adolescent life! I felt so official stampin' with the Pooch... Funny though when you think about it... can you see an adult woman using a dog with pink fluff coming from all angles to stamp things? Guess that's the beauty of childhood.. you can be a diva princess all you like & no one blinks twice.

Another highly prized Pip Possession!

Much loved & used... probably cause of it's creative flavour.

You could swap the plastic plates around to create different outfits and models... all you had to do was colour over the top of the plates to reveal the design on the paper.

I remember having heaps of fun with this one and thinking it was just so special.

I think I got high on my sister's Strawbs!

I used to just sit there for ages with her head permanently affixed to my nostrils taking big strawberry delightful sniffs! Scary!!

My big sis and I felt like lucky little cherubs when we got our very own plastic grocery store at home!

We had the big shelves, the shopping trolley, the plastic peas!

We were in heaven!

Speaking of shopping toys... the Fisher Price Cash Register was another absolute favourite!!

Didn't every little girl collect swap cards at some point?

My sister and I both collected novelty erasers. We were both very lucky to have great collections mainly cause Dad would buy us some every time he went overseas which was pretty often.

I asked Dad the other day if he knew where they were and he thinks he knows ... so I'm going to hunt them down... If I find them I'll be sure to photograph and do a blog post. (I definitely remember having a few of those Nintendo erasers above)

I so looked up to my big sister!

I feel like most of my first 10 years were probably spent copying her. She collected swap cards... I collected swap cards... she collected novelty erasers ... I collected novelty erasers. She collected writing paper... you get the gist!

I think I can only take credit for my sticker collection which I have to admit was a pretty sad collection. I mean most of the stickers were stuck into a cheap little sticker book... and if I'd really thought about it the time... what good is a collection of used stickers?

I remember my sister had an actual party to celebrate the birthday of her boy cabbage patch doll named David when she was around 7. He was an immaculate Patch... I envision him as the jock of the Patches... you know probably with rich parents and a sports car... plays tennis on Saturdays! Pretty sure he had a dimply cheeky grin too.

Anyway... my sis invited her school friends & their own Patch dolls to this party in honor of David's birthday and all her girl friends from school put money in to buy her another doll... I was just so in awe!

So after David's Birthday Party he was treated to a blonde lady Patch companion!

I remember her dolls stayed absolutely immaculate with their real baby nappys & matching outfits on... my patch girl called Sarah quickly became all crustifed with her hair all over the place, stains on her body... sitting most of the time half naked in that antique doll's cot in the corner of my room - poor Sarah... she probably lay in that cot wishing she was David!

I've already gone a little viewmaster crazy for my own son... he's probably already got a collection of over 50 slides... think it's more for the nostalgia value for me cause he's only looked at them once or twice.

Remember Alf? I can clearly remember the father in that show's voice.. it was such a weird voice wasn't it?

My Alf quickly became another permanent resident of the Doll's Cot.

Maybe he and Sarah whinged about David? ;)

Mum used to make us play dough a lot and we had heaps of fun with the barber shop. You remember... the one where you'd turn the chair and it would push the dough up through their heads to create hair.

Great fun to do.... just too bad they were impossible to clean and always had crusty hard bits of play doh blackheads in their skulls most of their lives!

I was such a HUGE Jem fan.

Picture a little girl with flouro socks and ruffle skirt singing Jem out of tune :)

And how's the words to the Jem theme song... today it cracks me up....

♫ Jem is truly outrageous... truly... truly...truly... outrageous ♫

The lyrics alone scream 80s!

These flick bracelets were so simple... but they were the biggest hit.

Who would've ever thought that a piece of metal covered in fabric that sounded like kids were being whipped would become a massive toy craze!!?!

I loved the spirograph! Wish I still had one!

I gave up ever trying this. To me it was a bloody annoying toy!

I just remember my older brother's Cube had crooked stickers all over it from where he took them off and matched all the colours his way...

he obviously found it annoying too!

We all much preferred the Rubik's Snake.

Our yard was made for the slip 'n' slide...

Slip n Sliding was something I remember my older brother initiating over so many summers. The side yard of our house.... was a slope... so of course it was perfect for a slip n' slide... didn't matter that at the end of the slip n' side was the danger of hitting a parked car, cement or a fence!

Every summer there'd be dead grass in the shape of a slipe n' side on the side of the house.

In the end I remember my brother just using giant pieces of plastic with tent pegs in each corner with washing detergent!

Brilliant Game - my older brother's favourite!

Still don't understand the gangster looking dude with a toupe and his asian sidekick though... never will?

Remember the Snorks?? I loved that cartoon!

The best dog we've ever had was Kelpie Collie cross breed farm dog.

We got it through Mum & Dad's best friends. I still remember the big day trip to the farm to pick her up and picking her from the litter. Mum says the adorable little puppy left the litter and followed us as though she picked us.

Poor puppy though... Mum and Dad left the responsibility of naming her to my little brother and I ... and well we were right into little Ms Punky Brewster at the time... so Punky the puppy was christened!

Poor thing... a farm dog that daydreamed herding sheep... was in a home with 4 kids with the name.... Punky! :)

When I think about it... that name must have been hard on Dad too...cause he was the one that usually had to call for her across the park or while walking, Yelling out loudly "Punky" always seemed to get noticed by passers by :) (Sorry Dad!)

My younger brother had this game... I remember playing it a fair bit.

Funny how there's a kids card game where the tax man is the dastardly moustache and top hat wearing, big, bad, evil guy.

Magic Sand freaked me out! I found it fascinating.

Loved the stuff!'

Remember Shrinky Dinks??

They'd start out as a big piece of plastic that you'd write your name on... then some time in the oven and they shrunk down to miniature versions for key rings & things.

How cool were they!!

ergh Slime!

It had that weird smell and the thing I used to love doing was pushing it back into the container to make fart noises! You just don't have a proper childhood unless you enjoy making fake fart noises!!

Watching Smurf cartoons and collecting the figurines from BP petrol stations was the thing to do in Australia in the 80s!

I was completely devastated the day I found out sea monkeys looked nothing like this picture!!

Talk about false advertising!!

My older brother had silly putty..

never got to have a play of this one.

intriguing toy idea though... don't you think?

My older brother had a great collection of Star Wars figures (though didn't every young boy of the late 70s early 80s?) and I remember he owned a case just like that in the picture.

Older brother was the envy of many the neighbourhood gang when he got a Green Machine (same as the picture).

He was given one as reward by being the boy in the photo's of the green machines for sale in the Venture store catalogue.

A big neighbourhood hit was this green monster!

I remember the boys going so hippo mental that the white marbles would end up all over the place!

I always wanted a Mr Frosty. Didn't you just love Slush Puppies??

I was thrilled when I found Slush Puppies sold in my local bakery not too long ago... so now my son loves to drink the frozen sugar water once a fortnight till his tongue is all blue from end to tip!

Mentioning a list of toy's from the 80's... well it's hard not to mention McDonald's as a part of it. Say and think what you will about McD's... but boy did they know how to do marketing!!!

It's really quite incredible to think that Mcdonald's makes up parts of most kids throughout the Western world's.... childhood memories!

I remember McDonald character straws... McDonald Character pens... the Muppet Baby Happy Meal toys and more!

I nearly flipped out when I saw this picture of the UFO Happy Meal Container cause all the memories of it came flooding back that I'd completely forgotten about!

Do you remember these awesome UFO plastic Happy Meal containers??

We had one of these... though it wasn't the Pacman Game.

My younger brother loved his Snake Mountain!

We've still got photo's of him with his best buddie playing with the microphone in the yard when he was about 7.

Seriously... what boy or girl didn't love the Ghostbusters??

My little brother and I loved to watch the 'Real Ghostbusters' cartoon too.

He had a great ghostbuster collection and he's even bought vintage ghostbuster toys for his son recently.
Isn't it great to be able to share toys you loved with your kids??

Go Gadget Go!

Little Bro had this action figure with all it's little gadgety features.

And little brother had an extensive Garbage Pail Kids Sticker Collection he was very proud of.

Though I think a lot of them ended up stuck to the underside of his bunk bed or behind his closet door?

Little bro loved his WWF wrestling arena where he fought his Hulk Hogan and Junkyard Dog figures!

The only thing I remember liking about the WWF was the Cindy Lauper Goonies Song filmclip which featured a few of the wrestlers in it!!

Best kids movie and best song!!

Well... that's about it... have stopped looking now.

Hope you enjoyed my nostalgia trip! I know I did :)

Homemade Spacecraft - Incredible!

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Apartment Fantasy

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Wouldn't you love to come across this on your walk home?