Delicious Amazeballs

While on my usual hunt for finding good healthy delicious & nutritional snacks, my friend forwarded a recipe on to me called.....wait.....AMAZEBALLS!!

With a name like that, how you you not be tempted to make them.

It is from a cookbook created by 2 Australians & it's called Eat Fat Be Thin.

It was such a simple recipe & one I could easily make with Charlotte. I am learning how much she loves being in the kitchen with me, so it's great to find simple recipes too.

As simple as mixing;

2 cups quinoa flakes or forage porridge or rolled oats (I used the oats)

1 cup pitted dates roughly chopped

1/2 cup of shredded coconut (I used desiccated coconut)

1/2 cup sultanas

2tbs organic peanut butter (I used what I had in the pantry)

1tbs cocoa powder

2tbs honey

2tbs water

1tsp vanilla extract

First 2 images by Kylie Loy. 

Bottom image from Eat Fat Be Thin

Blend ingredients until sticky, I found I used a fraction more water. Roll them into balls. Once they were all rolled I popped them in a container & tossed around in more coconut. They do taste better when refrigerated.

Simple & yummy, & perfect as a 3pm snack with a coffee. MMMM & MMMMM

Chalk board art that accidentally happened

OK, so I have created something without any real intentions. It's quite funny when things happen when they were never on the do to list. It's even better when they come out SO much better than you anticipated.

I have been admiring chalk board art for a long time now, especially watching you tube movies of it, & seeing the real thing happen before my eyes. It's remarkable.
I love watching incredibly talented artists, it inspires the heck out of me.
So with inspiration bubbling I had a play, but the digital way, so yep straight on the screen. Regardless it was such a fun way to work, I kind of didn't stop....for a while.
Before I knew it I created seven pieces just like that, & all pieces I would happily hang in my own home.

While creating, I also had mothers day in my head too. Making things that I would definitely give to mum, & pieces I know my girlfriends would also. Especially the seven essentials design.

So here they are, & they are all available in my shop.

I hope Monday is a magical day for you.

Easter tees 25% off

It's been a busy & exciting couple of weeks. I am having a ball with my new printer & have been practising daily on it. Learning lots print placements. I have placed some illustrations in odd places that seemed so very right when I hit print! Mmmm that ended up quite wrong. Understanding how much pre treatment I need to make sure print colours are vibrants & crisp. Experimenting on cottons, what looks better than others. It's been a massive & thrilling learning curve.

After much trial & error, & WAY too much fun I have completed my first itty bitty collection of tee shirts just in time for Easter.

There are 2 new designs.
One that is ideal for babies first Easter. An absolute perfect chocolate alternative.
So super cute!!
The other is a very cute bunny rabbit design that is a great Easter design, however could be worn throughout the the year as it's not screaming Easter.

here

As it's my first collection I am offering 25% off tees, only until Monday night 8pm AEST (24th Feb 2014).

Please remember I have made my tees with the idea in mind not everyone loves everything personalised, so if you don't with to have a name on there thats OK, just write NONE in the name box.

Smelling Lavender

I have been so drawn to the colour lavender lately, it's not normally a colour I would gravitate usually.

product links 1  2  3  4  5  6

My main reasons for it as it's definitely a soothing & calming colour. Lately I have been having some reiki done as I have been feeling a bit out of whack. That out of whack feeling is a hard one to explain, for me it's a feeling of being a bit blocked, when simple creative tasks or concentration seem to be a touch harder. Reiki is the most beautiful therapy for clearing your chakra & re balancing yourself. It's also a brilliant treatment for me as I can tend to feel a little stressed & anxious, especially when I have too much on my plate, which is always.

At my last treatment I was advised to pop a few drops of lavender oil on a tissue & pop in in my bra. The reason basically as when the body gets a little stressed it heats up which will then activate the lavender. Which in turn I will breath in & give me a calming feeling. I have been doing it for a few days now, & I actually love it more than I thought I would. I was paranoid I would smell like a potpourri bowl, but it's nothing like that at all. It's also been fantastic as it's made me quite aware of when I feel hurried, or a touch anxious as I can smell it. It's making me aware, which has also been great as I can sit back & make a conscious effort of taking 5 & just relax.

I am also actually loving the different shades of lavender, and seeing it was nominated as colour of the year 2014 by pantone, Radiant Orchid, it has to mean something doesn't it?

I hope your Friday is a relaxing one.

Drawing pretty girls

I am not sure why but lately I have had this urge to draw pretty girly girls. Usually when something like this happens I just have to trust it's whats best to do & go with it. I have been wanting to draw them for for a long time as I have had some ideas that could work well on gorgeous bedroom cushions.

I am in awe of so many amazing illustrators out there who draw gorgeous people & kids, so beautifully, being feared of comparison has been holding me back.  It seems silly doesn't it? But this year I am working really hard of letting it go & just be me & create what I love.

So before I keep waffling on I have drawn a couple more the last few days...Gulp... & here they are.

They are still in such a raw state, no colour just some lead & black ink. I can see many improvements that are needed, but I like to just draw & not think too much. The first draft.  See what happens. I haven't called them anything yet as I am still not sure where I want to go with them. One thing I know is that being the colour lover I am, they are definitely screaming out for some hues!

What I have been making

I have had a new opportunity this week. New as in a print job for someone else. My osteopath who is also a pilates/yoga/wellness instructor, is hosting a Lifestyle Retreat this coming weekend.
She knew I had the DTG machine & called me to ask if I could make twenty little drawstring pouches for her, small enough just to pop you mobile, lip gloss or any other small personal essentials.

Sure I could easily do that!!

She wanted something neutral, so calico was a perfect choice. All it needed was her black logo on it, & some matching draw cord.

And here they are, I am really happy with them & I am positive she will be too.

Twenty lucky girls.

I am thinking I would love to be attending the retreat. If you live in Melbourne you can find out more about them here.

Happy Valentine's Day

I am not going to pretend I am a huge celebrator of Valentine's Day, some times it can look a little cheesy to me. I am also grateful I'm seeing less & less stuffed animals, & instead absolutely beautiful heart felt creations on pinterest. If it's you & your partners thing, you could certainly go to the love town & make it a romantic celebration, & such a pretty one too.

After my shower this morning I walked into the kitchen to find these on my kitchen bench. Ahhhhhh yes I know how sweet. I definitely wasn't expecting it, as we don't typically celebrate Valentines. However I am not going to say no to flowers. I am not sure if they are cool or not anymore, but I have always loved Gerbera's. They are my happy flower, so bright & cherry. He knows that which I love.

I hope you have a wonderful day with the one you love.

Working on lately

I am really trying to make an effort to actually sit & create something each week this year. Whether it be something I decide to sell or not it doesn't matter. It's about keeping some drawing momentum happening in my life. Last year I kind of lost that consistency when I was distracted with other things, except of course when I was doing my art courses where I was forced which was brilliant, yet challenging.

Out with the sketch pad I had mothers day in mind. Lots of flowers & special words. I like this pieces as it's so loose & unstructured.

Adding some colour.

And because I just can't help myself I had to create another colour way.

After I drew both of these I have to admit I had let them sit for a little while, feeling unsure what to do with them. Then the obvious choice came to me.

Heat bags.

Both designs are available in my shop here & are filled with divine organically dried lavender & rice.

Great at the moment as cold packs, place across you head& grab some zen time.

I am ready to print

My new printer is here & ready to rock n roll!!

I had my final day of training yesterday which was brain exhausting, all the things I have had to learn. There is a whole lot of maintenance involved that now needs to become part of my daily routine. The machine is a little bigger than I predicted which means I have lost quite a bit of valuable work space in my room. I also ned to get some new electrical points put in to place, which has worked out well as I needed some new ones around the house anyway. You can see here just how tiny my work space is.

So here it is, all squished into my room.

I have been printing many new samples testing colours & using treatments for dark & light colours. I have been having to re format some of my work also which is becoming a long & tedious task.

But you can see below some samples I have done. I grabbed some old singlets & made them new again for the kids. I just can not believe how amazing it all looks. It's not been all roses though, I have had a couple of blunders which you can see on the left navy & white star. Eeeeeek that looks like that as I didn't use enough pre treatment.

the kids have definitely reaped the benefits so far. It's great as I have gotten their demands out of the way so I can start focusing on some new Tiges and Weince work.

YAY!!

DIY Eggstra Special Easter Basket

I have just completed my first PDF printable product. After loads of mucking around & making sure it was perfect, I am happy to say it's all ready to go.

Printable DIY Easter Personalised Basket

Both designs are party of my Easter collection which can be personalised with the name of your choice.
They are super easy, I have had a few friends trial them to make sure they were OK.
Everything passed with flying colours.

Boys Eggstra DIY Easter Basket

They are great price of only $5.00
All you have to do is advise the name you'd like & I will have your file emailed back within 24 hours.

Girls Eggstra DIY Easter Basket

You can find both designs along with my Easter cushions in my shop.

My office/studio space

Thought I would share some before photos of my office studio space, where I work in from home.
It's an incredibly tiny space, sometimes it feels so small I feel closed in.
However it is what it is & I am pretty lucky I have a space at all.
The below photo's were taken prior to my new machine coming. I thought it's a great way for me to remember my work environment here before I took the plunge into buying bigger equipment & commencing new challenges.

My machine has arrived now so once I am organised I will share the new room reveal. 

All I can I say it's even more squishy than it was before.

6 Valentine DIY activities for the kids to melt your heart

Love isn't just for the grown ups on Valentines day, it can be for the kids too.
I know that I would be so completely chuffed if my kids made something just for the simple fact  to tell me they loved me. I have to admit I am not going to hope something like this will be ready & waiting for me February 14th, my husband isn't that organised to make it happen.

However the thought of it melts me heart. 

My two favourite picks would have to be the hand prints (1) & valentine crown (4).

Valentine DIY for kids - 1  2  3  4  5  6

I hope you get something as divine from your kids. If you do please let me know so I can be completely envious. You can post them on my facebook page.

Easter 2014

It feels so early to talk about Easter today, yikes, I feel strange even bringing it up.
Should I or shouldn't I?

Every time I walk into the supermarket there seems to be more & more Easter eggs on the shelf, which means more hounding from the kids for me to buy some. Telling them to wait is becoming a challenge. They are still really young, so trying to explain that it's 2 months away, or 9 weeks away means absolutely nothing.  Easter this year is April 18th-21st.

I have created a couple of lovely items for the Easter season & wanted to first share my cushions with you. A lovely idea to combine with a delicious Easter egg, a prefect 1st Easter choice, or a great chocolate alternative.

Pretty Easter Bunny Cushion

Handsome Easter Bunny Cushion

As mentioned I have a couple of other things for Easter, one of them is a download which is so new for me. It's a lot of fun, & I am sure you will like it.