A little bit tickled...

Photo by Soy Co., NSW, Australia

Over the years I have been making handmade stationery, I have rarely ever seen the final product (place/table setting, bomboniere gifts etc.). It has been a labour of love for many customers. By the time emails have been exchanged, and the items have been made, packed and posted, I often realise that it hasn't been worthwhile monetarily. I don't charge a lot, so some customers are truly thankful and offer to send me a photo. Of course, no-one actually has followed through with this due to the busyness of life etc...

Recently, however, I received an email from a customer wanting some more items and she included a pic to illustrate that she wants the same tag with different text. I think the bomboniere gifts she has created (top) are just gorgeous--so beachy and rustic! I just love the natural jute twine she has used and the whole vintage feel of her arrangement. The tags look great too, if I may say so myself!

The other day, I received another email from a customer who I think makes candles. It was so lovely that she took the time to share the final products with me and inspires me to keep promoting and expanding my tag designs.

However, I have had to take up a temporary teaching position to retain my accreditation. I'll be making items on a limited basis until the rest of the year. I have scaled back my eBay store so less enquiries and orders are received over the next 6 months :( My other online store will still be available for customised orders :) I'll still be doing my market stall, but am away for the next two weekends. See you on 26th/27th July!

It's been so busy!

Chervonne and Thomas Ah Kuoi,

100% Recycled "Thank You" Cards,

'Wishing Well' Advice Cards

Well, I'm not quite sure what has happened to this year! I started an online store earlier in the year and certainly never expected it to grow as quickly as it has :) A couple of weeks ago I had to 'shut shop' completely for a time--it was just too hectic! My sister's wedding was approaching and I was a bridesmaid :) I also made some 'Wishing Well' advice cards for the Bride & Groom. I was so pleased to see that many people took the opportunity to write on these cards throughout the night. They are an alternative to a guest book and are very versatile--no waiting in a queue or for the book to be passed around. Just grab a groovy coloured pen and go for it! I haven't heard back from my sister yet, as she has been on her honeymoon, but I will be interested to hear about some of the wonderful messages received by the newlyweds.

I opened my store again after one week, and the orders just came rolling in once again! It hasn't stopped since. I'm now starting to get some larger orders, which is ideal, as it's easier to do things in bulk and package one parcel, than many small orders.

Although my online store is not very creative at this point (lots of bulk stationery items), I'm hoping to inject a bit more vibrancy into it in the New Year. One aspect of my store that has been very encouraging, is the opportunity I have had to sell environmentally-friendly paper products. They haven't exactly taken off, but there is a small percentage of people out there who wish to consciously support sustainable paper production in Australia. I am describing my cards which are made out of 100% post-consumer waste recycled paper. They also come with matching envelopes--all made in Australia, unlike many 'kraft' paper products, which (in worst case scenarios) can be made overseas from old-growth forests!

Well, gotta go for now--so many orders to complete, and I don't think I can get away with asking my husband to man my market stall yet again this weekend!

Business Products

Ateca's Travel Services, Lautoka Hotel Foyer, Lautoka, Fiji

Whilst staying in Lautoka, Fiji, we wanted to do a few adventurous things. However, it was difficult to find any Tourist Information in this town (actually, it's the second largest city in Fiji!) On the third last day, we thought we would approach the one person who seemed to know anything, a lady named Ateca, who rents a space in the Lautoka Hotel foyer. She was more than happy to organise a trekking tour for the next day and it turned out to be quite an adventure (expect the unexpected when visiting Fiji and you won't be disappointed).

The city of Lautoka has quite a bit to offer the tourist, but there is a lack of information available. Soon, I will be posting a review about the trek because I wish to promote this sustainable eco-tourism initiative. Ateca also gave us some helpful information about the best and cheapest way to get to the Port Denarau Marina, so I have offered to send her some business cards and a banner, designed and printed free-of-charge.

Green Gifts' design services include: all design needs for personal use and small business (business cards, banners, flyers, stationery, etc.), wedding and event stationery, and photo scanning/digital photo restoration services. Please feel free to contact me if you are interested in using any of these services and I will be happy to help :) Don't forget to contact Ateca if you are planning to visit Fiji in the near future. Ask her questions and she will do her best to organise some interesting local activities for you to do during your stay in Lautoka.