Happy New Year!

Flower stamp from 'Embrace Life' set by Stampin' Up!

Although I dream about living in the tropics, I have had to be true to myself and give up on the idea. It would simply be too hot and humid! I shouldn't confess this (due to the scorn it will undoubtedly bring), but I have been loving the wintry 'summer' weather up here in the mountains. I used to live by the coast in Sydney, which was wonderful in many ways, but I've come to enjoy the cooler climate over the past decade.

The handmade greeting card pictured above is a recent creation and reflects my idealisation of tropical living alongside palm trees and bright flowers. I've been to the South Pacific Islands a number of times and it's been such an amazingly beautiful and aesthetic experience every single time. I used to have a little photo album of favourite tropical shots on my desk at school. Whenever I was feeling a little down, it always made me feel so happy to flip through these photos.

The inspiration for this card came from a photo I took in Fiji last year (below). I was walking along the road in Namaka, near Nadi, and snapped a few shots along the way. The picture below features Bougainvillea flowers and I love the foreground and background layers captured by my rudimentary camera.

There were so many beautiful things to photograph in Fiji, some of which I will share here another time. Sometimes I think I should invest in a better camera as mine is so basic, but then I realise I wouldn't have the time to really focus on this hobby alongside all of the others I have! For now, I'll just have to focus on the image rather than the technicalities of the tools. Even with a simple camera, you would be surprised at the quality of shots that can been achieved :) I'm just a novice in the real sense of the word but my photographic cards are quite popular as an alternative to handmade cards, so it is worthwhile for me to continue to add new images to the collection.

Hope you're having a Happy New Year and I look forward to seeing you at my market stall in the oncoming months. Alongside my regular stock, I am always creating new cards and gifts, available at affordable prices, incorporating that handmade touch :)

Think handmade this Christmas!

Think handmade this Christmas! Christmas has become more commercialised of late, so why not inject a little bit of authenticism into your gifts, greetings and wrappings. One brochure I saw recently said, "Have yourself an organised Christmas!" Is this what Christmas has become--a frantic time of year that merely requires organisation and the hope for survival?

So, why not make your gifts stand out from the crowd. I will have handmade wrapping paper and gifts tags available as a pack this Sunday. For only $10, the pack includes 5 sheets (large size) of handmade wrapping paper and 10 gifts tags!

Handmade Christmas cards will also be available. Prices start at $2.00 per card. I try to make my Christmas cards as affordable as possible because of the quantity that people need at this time of year. My cards are suitable for posting and are particularly suitable for close friends and family who you'd like to make feel special. It is also nice to have that opportunity to write a special message inside each card, perhaps a quick summary of what you've appreciated in 2011 and blessings for the New Year.

I also have a lovely range of Christmas photographic cards for $3.00 each (example pictured above).

Even if it's raining, I look forward to your visit at my market stall this Sunday!

2011 - Year in Review

This year has passed by so quickly but, I'm happy to say, it has been a little easier than last. I'm trying to work smarter, rather than harder, and have gained more time for family and friends.

Despite the effect of the global economy on tourism in the Blue Mountains over the last couple of years, my sales have gradually been improving. I'm still classified as a hobbyist at this stage but intend to keep developing 'Green Gifts' as a business concept in 2012.

A number of customers have urged me to sell online, which is a huge undertaking to do properly, but I think it will be a worthwhile venture in the oncoming year. I still prefer face-to-face contact with customers at markets but the online world does have the potential for a much larger customer base.

A would love to approach some potential stockists in 2012 but this is dependent on having the time to create enough suitable stock (namely cards) before they're sold at the markets!

On that note, I do need to make a concerted effort to manage my time better in 2012. Which means less time on the internet and more time dedicated to organising/creating/working!

Dreary Mountains' Days

With summer approaching, I thought it was time to brighten up my blog with a new banner. The photo of wattle at the very top of this page (now pictured below) was taken some time ago in Penrith on one of those glorious days--such a blue sky! Days like that have been a rarity this year and last in the mountains, as it has rained often. I don't mind the rain but I always worry about my house because it really does need new guttering and drainage systems, as well as other rain barriers. This year has been an eventful year, with the trip to Fiji for my sister's wedding being the highlight. I'm very busy lately, especially with Christmas approaching, but the rain does put a bit of a damper on the markets scene. As a result, I will be developing online purchasing options in a serious way in 2012. For handmade Christmas cards, wrapping paper and gifts, please drop by my market stall in the oncoming weeks. Looking forward to seeing you!

 Blog Banner 2011-2012

Why Buy Handmade Greeting Cards?

This card is hand: stamped, torn, inked, drawn (e.g. swirls & dots), coloured, cut, glued and embellished.

As I interact with customers, I am sometimes surprised by people's hesitancy to buy handmade greeting cards. What with the glut of commercial cards available in shops, there seems to be an inherent trust in overpriced factory-produced cards. I am trying to challenge this notion by providing affordable gifts and cards, handmade using quality materials, unusual techniques and unique designs.

Handmade cards are not mass-produced by a printing press. Each one is hand constructed and designed. Common cardmaking techniques used include hand: stamping, drawing, embossing, inking, painting, cutting, gluing, mounting and embellishing. If you have ever dabbled in cardmaking yourself, you start to realise just how much effort goes into one card and the number of steps needed to create the finished product. Each card is a miniature artwork which reflects the creator’s passion for originality, aesthetics and design.

When you buy handmade cards, you have the opportunity to communicate your personal style and message to the recipients, which will ultimately hold a deeper meaning for them. There is something different about the way a handmade card looks and feels. The hand-embellished, multi-dimensional and artistic elements of a handmade card provide the recipient with something to treasure for many years to come, so it is unlikely to be discarded. I have known people to paste a favourite quote over the “Happy Birthday” sentiment on the front, for example, and frame their card.

People will genuinely value the thought you have put into selecting a creative handmade card for their special occasion whether it be a birthday, the birth of a baby, marriage, or simply a little note of thanks.

Handmade cards are great value for money and are often cheaper than mass-produced cards. Unsold and damaged cards are factored into the price of commercial cards. Why not consider buying an individually constructed product, which has been locally made with limited waste or environmental impact, and which has been made with great care and passion!

Text by Melanie © 2011

Customised Scrapbook Albums

6" x 6" scrapbook layout

12" x 12" scrapbook layout

Recently, I was contacted through this website to create a customised Wedding Scrapbook Album for a couple whose photos have been sitting in a box for 25 years. What better way to revive these older-style photos than to bring them to life with scrapbooking tools and techniques! I have been a 'scrapbooker' for about 8 years now, and have probably completed more pages for others than myself in this time, but all the classes, layouts and completed albums have certainly helped in honing my design skills and visual techniques.

It is hard to define my scrapbooking style. I use an eclectic range of tools and materials to suit a variety of styles. I believe that the addition of text to most scrapbook layouts is important. A textual, as well as a visual story must be told, providing your photos with that unique edge.

If you have a story you would like to tell through photos, text and other visual elements, but lack the time, tools and techniques to complete the project yourself, please contact me via the 'Contact' tab above. I will do my uptmost to present and preserve your precious photos in a truly unique and visually-appealing way.

Below is a brief outline of the cost of customised scrapbooking projects. Copies of photos are generally provided by the customer, so these costs cover my time, tools and materials:

6" x 6" scrapbook layouts - $6.00 each

8" x 8" scrapbook layouts - $8.00 each

12" x 12" scrapbook layouts - $12.50 each
12" x 12" deluxe scrapbook layouts - $15.00 each

An album would generally contain around 20 layouts. The cost of the album and sleeves is in addition to the layout costs, and differs according to the size chosen. Only the actual cost price is passed onto the customer.

For the Wedding Album described at the beginning of this post, the customer is edging towards the 12" x 12" deluxe scrapbook layouts as he wants the best layouts I am capable of producing with the photos provided. To give you an idea of cost, the album would be approximately $50 (including sleeves) and the pages (around 16) would be $240. So, for $290 in total, this couple will finally have an aesthetic album of their wedding memories to share with family and friends. Great value for the amount of care and thought that goes into such a project!

New Photographic Cards

I'm always adding new photographic cards to the collection, and hope to have some fresh designs ready for Christmas (yes, people have already started thinking about it!) I took this picture at The Blue Mountains Botanic Garden, Mount Tomah earlier this year. It was a gorgeous day after a rainy week and I thoroughly enjoyed the cool climate atmosphere. It's well worth a visit if you love botanic diversity and aesthetic views.

Mounted photographic cards are $2.50 each (professionally printed card designs are $3.00 each) and come with a coordinating envelope. If you are interested in purchasing any, please email me and I can send you attachments of some of my most popular images (or check out images on this blog). These cards are perfect for sending to loved ones overseas as all of the photos have been taken in Australia and the South Pacific. I accept bank deposit and PayPal (the same options offered on the 'online markets' madeit and Etsy).