a girl called mike returns + stay out of the sun!

Do I need some teapot earrings? hmmmm

Yay!

Brian The Courier also brought us some lovely handmade silver goodness from a girl called mike.

They'll be in stock when we reopen on Tuesday 31st January.

If you follow us on Facebook you'll be aware that we are open today (Friday 27th) but then shall be closed for the weekend.

This is because I'm having a small pity party.

This has involved fairy bread on a couple of occasions.

Last Monday I had over 20 Sunspots burned/frozen off my hands, arms and face. I am a bit of a wuss and a chicken plus I think that I look as though I may be a victim of the bubonic plague - I just simply don't feel up to leaving the apartment yet.

One of the zillion reasons I love my shop is because the buck stops with me I guess.

Whilst I am sincerely sorry if our being closed Saturday & Sunday inconveniences anyone at all, I really strongly believe in putting health & happiness first. I'll be totally fine & am not fishing for sympathy I assure you - it's just superficial and I'm so glad I have had them all removed! I just felt I owed an explanation I suppose.

xxx

PS WEAR SUNSCREEN or even better STAY OUT OF THE SUN.

It's more Carney!!!

Hurrah!

A new delivery of absolutely spunky papery goods just arrived from Lauren Carney!

We love her stuff & so do our Customers it seems!!!

We've two types of her stationery sets + two types of her postcard sets!

(She's all out of her stickers at the moment,

but if she does more we'll buy more!)

xxx

Emma makes...

Who are you & why is your range called what it is called?

My name is Emma and my range is called Emma Makes.

Where are you located?

I live in Featherston, which is a small (pop: 2000) town in South Wairarapa, an hours train ride from Wellington, New Zealand.

How long have you been creating your lush wares?

I've always been making things but have been selling as Emma Makes for around four years. My range grows and changes depending on what people want and what I enjoy making.

Do you currently have a favourite item in your range?

I love all my notebooks and pencils - mainly because I'm a real list maker and they're useful although I only let myself have the seconds; ones with flaws that I can't sell. My favourite pencil changes all the time but right now it's 'Stay Gold Ponyboy', which is a quote from The Outsiders.

(That's our favourite too!)

What motivates you to keep crafting/creating?

I can't really stop - I always have ideas for new products and selling my work and have people love it is a huge motivation too.

Are you someone who generally tends to buy Handmade over mass produced? Why?

I love buying handmade because I know the effort that goes into it. I have a couple of favourite shops that stock lots of handmade and think it just makes a better present than mass produced.

Do you have any new items in the pipe works that you'd like to hint to us about?

I always have new ideas for notebooks and pencils - I'm thinking of creating new notebooks based on giant letters because I love fonts.

Do you also sell online?

Yes! The best place to find me is at www.emmamakes.com - from there you can buy online, link to my Facebook page and read my blog.

Would you like for me to link to your store for those poor people not able to get into Blackbird?

Sounds great. The best link is to: http://felt.co.nz/shop/emmamakes

Are you sick of answering these silly questions?

No! I love answering questions.

Emma.

Emma Makes pencils and handmade/handprinted notebooks are currently winging their way to our shelves from New Zealand. C'mon Brian!!!

Her pencils will retail for $3 each; small notebooks $10 and large $15. Large size (A5 folded out to A4) or small size (A6 folded out to A5.) Each notebook is hand-coloured and handmade.

I almost forgot to mention! We're Emma Makes' first Australian Stockists! And Newcastle's exclusive stockists too! Hurrah!!!

Happiness Friday

Happiness is shelves full of wares that I'm proud to sell.

My Poppet + Pirdy + Delilah Devine all make me feel that way!

Hurrah!

xx

ebb and flow

We have reopened as of today slightly less full of stock than I'd like. That being said, there is so much on it's way, soon I'll be stressing about squeezing everything in!

Yesterday, our courier Brian brought our deliveries to our home front door as the shop was closed.

Now that is service!

So we're freshly restocked with gorgeous Delilah Devine Vintage Wallpaper Flying Ducks + Catherine Campbell prints & sticker sets!

Wonder what he'll bring today?

xxx

And so it continues...

Hey. I've not blogged much lately as December is the busiest time of year for Blackbird. We spend a lot (a lot) of time making stock to fill most of our racks ourselves plus handprint our packaging. Also harassing (hee hee) our gorgeous suppliers of handmade delights is quite time consuming too. December 2011 was our best month ever so we're pretty stoked with ourselves right now.

And exhausted.

Happy exhausted though.

We did manage a couple of moments of relaxation between Xmas and NYE. Had a delicious meal at Goldbergs with some lovely close friends visiting from Sydney. We were going to go to Frankies Place (our favourite Darby Street Cafe) but it was Boxing Day & it was closed - like most cafes that day. And rightfully so! We all need time off!

Had the obligatory beer or three at The Oriental pub in Cooks Hill.

And, naturally, I got the "summer flu" that's been going around. It started on Xmas Day & has stuck with me still, although am feeling heaps heaps heaps better than I was! I've been told by several people that it is my body forcing relaxation on me. That seems unfair! I was quite happy to relax minus the phlegm & mucus thanks all the same!

Pepper was happy though as she has had so many cuddles & built a nest on my quilt on the lounge at one stage! Despite being ill I had to work last Thursday, as Sean was committed elsewhere, and I whined about it on Facebook. One of our very sweet regulars actually bought me in some eucalyptus lollies for my sore throat! I was so grateful & it cheered me up immensely.

Unfortunately, due to a cause I'm rather passionate about and openly involved in, I've had to interact with some rather negative humans in the last couple of months. People I'd never usually give the time of day because their minds are seemingly closed and inflexible.

Instead of sticking to the facts and focussing on what we disagree about, I've received a bit of flack & some quite derogative personal comments in public forums from these people.

People I don't know & who don't know me.

It's been a little intimidating to be totally honest.

I'm so very blessed that Blackbird Corner gives me a "bubble" where I generally encounter only friendly, intelligent and empathetic people. Interacting with visitors to our shop reminds me that the vast majority of Novocastrians (and people from elsewhere both Nationally and Internationally) are empathetic, passionate people who care about the environment, respecting local history and being involved in their Communities.

Most people are good.

We try to believe that.

xxx

PS. There I go again, off on a tangent.

x

Happy New Year!

It's a wrap!

WRAP

// a magazine celebrating creativity, featuring work by top illustrators and designers from around the world
// 9 sheets of exclusively designed wrapping paper
// coordinating notecards to the prints featured in the issue
// every copy is hand-numbered! Limited edition of 2,000 copies

WRAP is an illustration magazine with a unique concept, because once you've read it you can go on to reuse every sheet as wrapping paper.

WRAP is published in the UK and printed on FSC certified paper using vegetable-based inks.

There are no staples or stitches, so each sheet can easily be taken out and reused.

We are SO THRILLED to be stockists of WRAP!!

In stock now and only AUD$20 - we sold two of them the second they hit the shelves!!

Methinks I'd best order more NOW!!

xxx

Ms Pepper Puppy update time

Standing guard on the deck of Cooks Hill Books.

Interrupted her during her serious responsibilities.

Indignantly standing behind her safety barrier on the deck of Cooks Hill Books. Cranky because I'm not on the same side of it as her.

Ms Pepper Puppy now rules our lives.

And that is just fine with us.

xxx

Our friend Miss Kate

Who are you & why is your range called what it is called?

Miss Kate's Klipz. Originally I, Miss Kate, started making just hair clips but have now widened the range but love the name.

Where are you located?

Newtown, NSW

How long have you been creating your lush wares?

About 3 years now.

Do you currently have a favourite item in your range?

I like my flamingo hair bow the best -

but that's because I love flamingoes!

What motivates you to keep crafting/creating?

Seeing people happy when they buy and wear my items.

Are you someone who generally tends to buy Handmade over mass produced?

Yes indeed!

Why?

Handmade means it is special and made with love.

Do you have any new items in the pipe works that you'd like to hint to us about?

Not at present as I'm preparing to move house in the New Year.

But once settled, Miss Kate's Klipz will be back better than ever.

(We're so EXCITED for you Miss Kate!)

Do you also sell online?

I have a web page www.misskatesklipz.com that will also be ready after the house move.

Would you like for me to link to your store for those poor people not able to get into Blackbird?

When its ready - I would love that Miss Nici.

Are you sick of answering these silly questions?

Never.

xxx

PS. Miss Kate is a dear old friend of ours.

Well, she's not old - our friendship is!

Her range makes lovely little gifts!