I don't think I have ever been so bold as to come out and say I am a plus size Mama. It's true and there is no shame in it I just don't believe I have put that out there yet.
Clothes have always been an issue for me. As much as I love them, actually finding clothing that I like that is in my size and somewhat flattering, most days seems like the impossible mission. For this reason I gravitate towards plain kind of boring clothes that I can jazz up with accessories. Since I love brooches and earrings soo much its easy to dress up a plain outfit to still feel like a "mel' outfit.
Recently I discovered I really don't like about 80% of my wardrobe and of the 20% of it that I do actually like only a third actually fits me. I had all of this clothing that I owned merely for the reason that it fit me, it was not necessarily my style or even flattering in many cases it just fit. So with this in mind I decided to turf about 90% of my clothes (some awesome dresses will be on ebay very soon the rest are going to the Salvos). So I need new clothes, but I need to sell some first.
I have felt kind of bad that soo much of my clothing is/was store brought when I love handmade so much but everytime I search "plus size" on etsy I am graced with an array of hippy like tie dyed sacks or maternity clothes, not really my style right now. So for a while I have been a little cranky at etsy and feeling sorry for myself.. Poor me I am big and I need handmade clothes because store brought plus size is mostly ugly and atleast handmade can be made to fit... HAZZAH!!! Lightbulb.... This whole time I should have been searching "custom" not "plus size" and hello etsy I am madly in love with you all over again.
I received in the mail today a dress from a lovely lady in Hong Kong, the fabric has a repeated pattern of ships and it is just divine.
I now have three favourite pieces of handmade clothing The first being my wedding dress made by the ever so lovely Peta Pledger, who buy the way also makes awesome awesome dress that fit all shapes and sizes (several of her dresses are on my new wardrobe wish list). The second is my favourite top in the world made by my beautiful friend Kerstin who is the brains, talent and beauty behind Paul and Paula Kids clothing. Last but not least my beautiful new ship dress from Prototype designs.
I am starting to get excited about clothes again and can't wait to slowly start rebuilding my wardrobe with clothes that I love and can't wait to wear.
I will keep you updated on what I find along my way.
Tuesday, 15 November 2011
Sunday, 6 November 2011
Customer Service
My apologies in advance this will come off sounding a bit like a gripe (because it is,, but as always there is a sunny side).
I am presently annoyed with an online bookstore whom shall remain nameless... More than a month ago as a surprise I ordered Digger a book I thought he would enjoy, thinking to myself the whole time how convenient to be able to surprise him at a time when it was just impossible for me to be able to get out and about. Well that was in September! The book in question has been charged to my credit card and it is yet to arrive. Now I know things get held up and I am a fairly patient person. The website in question had a note on my account saying stock was expected on September 27th, however I had to log in to their site to even be graced by this information. There has been not so much as an email to say stock has been delayed etc etc....
I am ever so sad to say this has happened to me in the handmade community also.
I recently purchased a birthday present for a friend, from a melbourne designer who I have admired for sometime. I appreciate just how much work goes into running your own handmade business so I was not concerned at all when a week later I had not received the items I ordered (they were listed for immediate postage once payment had cleared). But when the package had not arrived after two weeks without so much as an email to say thanks for your order I will pop your items in the post shortly, I decided perhaps it was the internets fault and perhaps this lovely lady had not actually received my order. So I sent a nice email to say I was in no rush but wanted to make sure she had received my order. I still have not had a response to this email. However the very next day my package arrived postmarked the date of my email. I did receive additional items that I had not ordered, I am assuming as an apology for the delay. Whilst this was a lovely gesture I would have been content with a quick email saying sorry things have been hectic but I will post this asap. Instead my email went unanswered and I doubt I will purchase from her again.
Its unfortunate that bad customer service happens because it reflects badly on all sales people (it shouldn't but it does).
So much so that when we get good service we tend to rave about it because it is soo uncommon.
SO here is some service I do want to rave about.
I am pleased to say that in my dealings within the handmade community "bad service" has only happened to me once. In every other transaction and there have been many, I have honestly felt a sense of satisfaction from good service that I have experienced nowhere else. Even when you are purchasing something from someone on the other side of the world who you will never ever meet, it still feels like a very personal experience. Even more so when you buy at local handmade markets and get to have a chat with these amazing people, somehow I always end up finding out how they got into making their specific items and why (or maybe I am just nosey).
I wont let my one bad experience colour my view of buying handmade, I may not buy from that particular designer again but thats a different issue. But it served to remind me just how good I have had it with the handmade community to soo consistently have had excellent customer service that one insy wincey bad experience could stand out so much.
So whilst I started griping about bad customer serviced this post is really about just how good customer service is when you buy handmade....
and I remain one very very happy handmade shopper..
I don't think I can say it enough.. thank you to all the handmade sellers out there who have made shopping fun for me again.....
I hope all of your shopping experiences are happy ones.
I am presently annoyed with an online bookstore whom shall remain nameless... More than a month ago as a surprise I ordered Digger a book I thought he would enjoy, thinking to myself the whole time how convenient to be able to surprise him at a time when it was just impossible for me to be able to get out and about. Well that was in September! The book in question has been charged to my credit card and it is yet to arrive. Now I know things get held up and I am a fairly patient person. The website in question had a note on my account saying stock was expected on September 27th, however I had to log in to their site to even be graced by this information. There has been not so much as an email to say stock has been delayed etc etc....
I am ever so sad to say this has happened to me in the handmade community also.
I recently purchased a birthday present for a friend, from a melbourne designer who I have admired for sometime. I appreciate just how much work goes into running your own handmade business so I was not concerned at all when a week later I had not received the items I ordered (they were listed for immediate postage once payment had cleared). But when the package had not arrived after two weeks without so much as an email to say thanks for your order I will pop your items in the post shortly, I decided perhaps it was the internets fault and perhaps this lovely lady had not actually received my order. So I sent a nice email to say I was in no rush but wanted to make sure she had received my order. I still have not had a response to this email. However the very next day my package arrived postmarked the date of my email. I did receive additional items that I had not ordered, I am assuming as an apology for the delay. Whilst this was a lovely gesture I would have been content with a quick email saying sorry things have been hectic but I will post this asap. Instead my email went unanswered and I doubt I will purchase from her again.
Its unfortunate that bad customer service happens because it reflects badly on all sales people (it shouldn't but it does).
So much so that when we get good service we tend to rave about it because it is soo uncommon.
SO here is some service I do want to rave about.
I am pleased to say that in my dealings within the handmade community "bad service" has only happened to me once. In every other transaction and there have been many, I have honestly felt a sense of satisfaction from good service that I have experienced nowhere else. Even when you are purchasing something from someone on the other side of the world who you will never ever meet, it still feels like a very personal experience. Even more so when you buy at local handmade markets and get to have a chat with these amazing people, somehow I always end up finding out how they got into making their specific items and why (or maybe I am just nosey).
I wont let my one bad experience colour my view of buying handmade, I may not buy from that particular designer again but thats a different issue. But it served to remind me just how good I have had it with the handmade community to soo consistently have had excellent customer service that one insy wincey bad experience could stand out so much.
So whilst I started griping about bad customer serviced this post is really about just how good customer service is when you buy handmade....
and I remain one very very happy handmade shopper..
I don't think I can say it enough.. thank you to all the handmade sellers out there who have made shopping fun for me again.....
I hope all of your shopping experiences are happy ones.
Tuesday, 1 November 2011
Some books I love you may not have heard of.
I have many many favourite books.. in fact I have two books shelves in my living room that are specifically for my "favourites" and a shelf in my bedroom of the extra special favourites so they are on hand in the event of a case of insomnia.
Theres lots of books you would expect to find if you know me well, even if you don't. They are the standard 150 odd books you must read...etc
My copies of Madame Bovary, The Bell Jar and Mrs Dalloway have been read and reread so many times the corners of their pages are frayed and stained with my fingerprints.. I can quote whole chunks from Wuthering Heights and To Kill a Mockingbird. These are all great books and I love them.
I am somewhat of an obsessive reader when I find an author I like I simply must read everything I can get my mits on that they have written... Like Brett Easton Ellis and Michael Chabon or Don Dellio.
I wanted to share with you some fantastic books that I love that I have chanced upon rather than been told I MUST read, maybe you already know about them. But just incase you don't heres 5 books from my "favourites" shelf they are all very different and in my small opinion beautifully written. Maybe next time you are at the library or secondhand book store you might find one and give it a go.
1. What a Piece of Work by Dorothy Porter (all of her books are amazing)
2. Orpheus Lost by Janette Turner Hospital
3. Youth by J.M Coetzee (I am a little obsessed with his books)
4. Falling by Anne Provost
5. Bureaucracy Blues by Craig Horne
I have to note on this one, that Craig Horne is a public servant who lives in Melbourne in a suburb I dearly miss. He is a solo blues singer. I think this is a book for everyone but would be especially enjoyed by public servants who love music.. so naturally I love this book.
If you are a bookish type yourself I have started a bookish little blog in lieu of starting that book that my Ryan keeps hounding me to write.. You might find it to be a whole heap of random rambling or you might like it.
Your welcome to have a peek at www.bigfatnerdypants.blogspot.com
Hope your having a lovely day
Oh and if anyone is interested... The book I am presently reading to the Poppet is Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and through the looking glass by Lewis Carroll.
Theres lots of books you would expect to find if you know me well, even if you don't. They are the standard 150 odd books you must read...etc
My copies of Madame Bovary, The Bell Jar and Mrs Dalloway have been read and reread so many times the corners of their pages are frayed and stained with my fingerprints.. I can quote whole chunks from Wuthering Heights and To Kill a Mockingbird. These are all great books and I love them.
I am somewhat of an obsessive reader when I find an author I like I simply must read everything I can get my mits on that they have written... Like Brett Easton Ellis and Michael Chabon or Don Dellio.
I wanted to share with you some fantastic books that I love that I have chanced upon rather than been told I MUST read, maybe you already know about them. But just incase you don't heres 5 books from my "favourites" shelf they are all very different and in my small opinion beautifully written. Maybe next time you are at the library or secondhand book store you might find one and give it a go.
1. What a Piece of Work by Dorothy Porter (all of her books are amazing)
2. Orpheus Lost by Janette Turner Hospital
3. Youth by J.M Coetzee (I am a little obsessed with his books)
4. Falling by Anne Provost
5. Bureaucracy Blues by Craig Horne
I have to note on this one, that Craig Horne is a public servant who lives in Melbourne in a suburb I dearly miss. He is a solo blues singer. I think this is a book for everyone but would be especially enjoyed by public servants who love music.. so naturally I love this book.
If you are a bookish type yourself I have started a bookish little blog in lieu of starting that book that my Ryan keeps hounding me to write.. You might find it to be a whole heap of random rambling or you might like it.
Your welcome to have a peek at www.bigfatnerdypants.blogspot.com
Hope your having a lovely day
Oh and if anyone is interested... The book I am presently reading to the Poppet is Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and through the looking glass by Lewis Carroll.
Sunday, 30 October 2011
One Pot WONDERFUL lunch
It's a lazy sunday afternoon and despite to superbly crappy weather I have had a really nice day.
Today we got to have lunch with two of our very special friends and it got me to thinking. We are very very lucky that we are close enough to some of our favourite people in the world to be able to see them often, or as often as our busy lives allow. It is not lost on me that this is not the case for everyone and it makes me feel very greatful.
For the last few weeks every sunday we have sat down for a meal with some awesome friends and family. They have mostly been spontaneous lunches, which just makes me super excited.
Since our lovely warm week turned cold and sour at its conclusion, I decided to make a wintery warm dish to fill everyone up. I got the recipe from Frankie magazine and as per normal I put my own twist on things.
Basically in a big casserole dish (with lid) I put 1.5kg of chicken thighs and drumsticks with 5 diced white onions and one tin of diced whole tomatoes (half below and half on top of the chicken). Before you put the second half of you onion and tomato in you cover the chicken with a layer of sliced smoked bacon. To finish you add some thyme and bayleaves and 375mls of white wine. It cooks for two hours at 180 degrees, with the lid on only for the first hour.
This is how it looks when it is done
The first picture is a Digger sized serve.
It was warm and comforting, as was the company.
Today was just what I needed wonderful people, yummy food.
All smiles in my house.
I hope your sunday has been brilliant too..
Today we got to have lunch with two of our very special friends and it got me to thinking. We are very very lucky that we are close enough to some of our favourite people in the world to be able to see them often, or as often as our busy lives allow. It is not lost on me that this is not the case for everyone and it makes me feel very greatful.
For the last few weeks every sunday we have sat down for a meal with some awesome friends and family. They have mostly been spontaneous lunches, which just makes me super excited.
Since our lovely warm week turned cold and sour at its conclusion, I decided to make a wintery warm dish to fill everyone up. I got the recipe from Frankie magazine and as per normal I put my own twist on things.
Basically in a big casserole dish (with lid) I put 1.5kg of chicken thighs and drumsticks with 5 diced white onions and one tin of diced whole tomatoes (half below and half on top of the chicken). Before you put the second half of you onion and tomato in you cover the chicken with a layer of sliced smoked bacon. To finish you add some thyme and bayleaves and 375mls of white wine. It cooks for two hours at 180 degrees, with the lid on only for the first hour.
This is how it looks when it is done
The first picture is a Digger sized serve.
It was warm and comforting, as was the company.
Today was just what I needed wonderful people, yummy food.
All smiles in my house.
I hope your sunday has been brilliant too..
Wednesday, 26 October 2011
Gifting is fun....
The Poppet is sleeping so right now I should be doing alot of things.. like housework, making myself look presentable..paying attention to the dog!!! I just don't have the energy.
Lately Miss Poppy has not been the happiest camper..
With this warm weather she is having trouble sleeping, she can't sleep unless she is swaddled but summer swaddles are soo stretchy that baby houdini always finds her way out.. So I have been getting up to swaddle and resettle her every half an hour for a while.. This explains why my bronchitis just doesn't want to go away and probably why I have had an irritable girl most days. Or atleast part of the reason, she has been really grumpy around feeding time for quite a while now.. not even the doctor or maternal health nurse had a reason for me beyond "she's probably having a growth spurt"... for two months?????
Understandably we have not been out much. The Poppet has been unhappy and since we live in an area where you have to drive to go anywhere.. sleep deprived I don't really trust myself behind the wheel. So we have stayed in,, And I started to feel a little blue..It's only natural I think.
Luckily I know something that always makes me feel better.. Gifting. Especially when it is something I have made myself or when it's to someone who really needs it.
I am almost to the bottom of my list for the bottle cozies and I am planning some new knitted things too..
It makes me feel good to know that I can cheer other people up even if I am not soo cheery myself.
So that's where Poppet On is at right now. Gifting to some wonderful friends and to some people I hardly know, and it has helped me to feel better.
Well my mother in law is due here any minute... so I best at least brush my hair and make sure there is no food on my face... hang on did I eat today??????????
Hope your having a lovely day
x
Lately Miss Poppy has not been the happiest camper..
With this warm weather she is having trouble sleeping, she can't sleep unless she is swaddled but summer swaddles are soo stretchy that baby houdini always finds her way out.. So I have been getting up to swaddle and resettle her every half an hour for a while.. This explains why my bronchitis just doesn't want to go away and probably why I have had an irritable girl most days. Or atleast part of the reason, she has been really grumpy around feeding time for quite a while now.. not even the doctor or maternal health nurse had a reason for me beyond "she's probably having a growth spurt"... for two months?????
Understandably we have not been out much. The Poppet has been unhappy and since we live in an area where you have to drive to go anywhere.. sleep deprived I don't really trust myself behind the wheel. So we have stayed in,, And I started to feel a little blue..It's only natural I think.
Luckily I know something that always makes me feel better.. Gifting. Especially when it is something I have made myself or when it's to someone who really needs it.
I am almost to the bottom of my list for the bottle cozies and I am planning some new knitted things too..
It makes me feel good to know that I can cheer other people up even if I am not soo cheery myself.
So that's where Poppet On is at right now. Gifting to some wonderful friends and to some people I hardly know, and it has helped me to feel better.
Well my mother in law is due here any minute... so I best at least brush my hair and make sure there is no food on my face... hang on did I eat today??????????
Hope your having a lovely day
x
Wednesday, 19 October 2011
What a Year !!
Isn't it strange how you never really seem to sit down and take stock of just how much you have accomplished in a year? Or it is just me.
I had to call my course advisor the other day, I decided to switch to off-campus study for a while. Whilst we were discussing the pro's and con's of this she asked me about my exam rate, clearly it had decreased quite a lot of the past twelve months. My response... I have kind of had a very busy year......
We went to Japan...
As soon as we got back we listed our unit for Auction...
We put in an offer on a house in suburbia..
We sold our house at auction... The night of the auction we got engaged...
We started planning the wedding...
We moved to our new house...
We started to nail down wedding plans..
We found out we were pregnant...
We changed wedding plans and got a wedding up and running in a very short period of time...
We had some pregnancy drama... (turned out just find)
We GOT married
I got soo big I had to finish up work earlier than planned...
We had a beautiful baby girl.....
Japan I believe was in May/June 2010... Poppy was born on June 3rd 2011.
In between all of those things I have left a lot out, but I am sure my course advisor really didn't want to hear my whole life story..
Seriously though think about it.. Make a list of everything you have done in the last twelve months. Time sure does fly, but I am certain you will be amazed by all you have done.
I had to call my course advisor the other day, I decided to switch to off-campus study for a while. Whilst we were discussing the pro's and con's of this she asked me about my exam rate, clearly it had decreased quite a lot of the past twelve months. My response... I have kind of had a very busy year......
We went to Japan...
As soon as we got back we listed our unit for Auction...
We put in an offer on a house in suburbia..
We sold our house at auction... The night of the auction we got engaged...
We started planning the wedding...
We moved to our new house...
We started to nail down wedding plans..
We found out we were pregnant...
We changed wedding plans and got a wedding up and running in a very short period of time...
We had some pregnancy drama... (turned out just find)
We GOT married
I got soo big I had to finish up work earlier than planned...
We had a beautiful baby girl.....
Japan I believe was in May/June 2010... Poppy was born on June 3rd 2011.
In between all of those things I have left a lot out, but I am sure my course advisor really didn't want to hear my whole life story..
Seriously though think about it.. Make a list of everything you have done in the last twelve months. Time sure does fly, but I am certain you will be amazed by all you have done.
Sunday, 9 October 2011
My favourite things.. Part 1
I tried to make a list of all my favourite things.. The list started getting really really long, which made me think how can all these things be my favourites when there are soo many.. by definition my favourite things should be kind of exclusive.. But then I thought about all the things there are in the world and by comparison my massive list of favourite things is actually tiny..
Here are some of them...
I love lists (well that was kind of obvious)
I love being a mum
I love handmade things
I love Coffee..
I think we already established the above in my last post so here are some other things amongst my list of favourites
I love birds, clouds and hot air balloons. Any item that has pictures or prints of all three I have to have!! Who am I kidding items with any of the above make for a "i really want one.. i must have one" item.
I love animals... especially our dog frank! When the Poppet is bigger the hubby agreed we can have a bunny rabbit.
I love baking and morning tea/afternoon tea.. tea in general.
I love second hand bookstores.. I could spend days and I mean days going through all the shelves.
I love aprons of all shapes and sizes.
I love the colour burgundy, maroon, red wine whatever you want to call it!
I love french films.
I love receiving mail... I still on occasion pen letters to my Aunty in sydney and she always writes straight back.
and when the mood takes me I love to paint...
Thats maybe half my list maybe less. I have only had two coffees today so that severely impacts my ability to think/write. So I am off to do something else I love.. Online shopping for stationary,,, yes I know I am a big fat nerd.
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