I almost forgot to tell you!

Head over to the Blackbird Corner Facebook Page

+ click on the tab at the top titled "Giveaway Time!"

+ leave a comment there and....

We do love a good Facebook giveaway!

(And we do adore Lomo Cameras!)

But we never ask our "likers" to pimp our page or "share" the giveaway! Our giveaways are to thank the people who read our Facebook status updates/hang out on our page and don't click "unlike" -

not to get people to "like" our page without really knowing/caring what we're about!

We're about quality not quantity!

Frankly, I don't quite see the point in increasing "traffic" to your page if the "traffic" are just there to win something then leave.

But, as I seem to be saying with increasing regularity of late,

each to their own!

We've had the biggest ever March yet at Blackbird Corner, and just want to celebrate that by sharing goodies with our lovely & amazingly supportive Customers!

xxx

Our Easter trading hours - such as they are -

KITTYROBOT!

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

Hi, My name is Jodie, I run Kittyrobot, with a little assistance from the other half of KR. We settled on the name Kittyrobot because we both share a love of Kitties, and robots. Combining the two for the cuteness of the kitties, and the colours and fun elements of the robots, we felt combined, the name suited the quirky nature of our goods.

Where are you located?

The best place in Australia..Newcastle, NSW.

How long have you been creating your lush wares?

We initially started selling our handmade buttons in 2006, then moved to Etsy in 2007 and grew our little range from there.

Do you currently have a favourite item in your range?

It's hard to choose favourites, but I do love the Tea time cutie range, especially the fairytale tea cup rings! My close second would have to be the resin buttons, especially the candy sprinkle range.

What motivates you to keep crafting/creating?

I just love the excitement of creating something new! Planning out New ideas, and the fun process of thinking up something new, working on it, and then finding that other people in the world kind of love it enough to purchase is always a little rush.It's exciting to see people using our products in their own projects, or wearing jewellery pieces and loving them as much as we do. I just really love the creative outlet of it all.

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

Yes, I especially love hunting out cute handmade things to gift to people that they will love, and might not have seen anywhere else in regular stores. I think the attention to detail really shows in handmade things, and something a little unique and different is always the best kind of gift to give. I also buy a ton of handmade things for around the house, and for myself because I like the unique quality to them.

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

I have been experimenting with some new necklace designs, and buttons lately, but I always usually have a few projects on the go in the background, trying to bring in new items regularly.

Do you also sell online?

Yes, on both ETSY and MADEIT.

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

Sure. For our full range,

ETSY: http://kittyrobot.etsy.com

and some selected cuteness at Madeit: http://madeit.com.au/kittyrobot

Are you sick of answering these silly questions?

Not at all, I enjoyed them!

Thanks Jodie!

We're so thrilled to be stocking another Novocastrian Independent Designer! And one whose designs we've always admired so!

xxx

I am on instagram. You?

Maybe "follow" us?

@blackbirdcorner

That'd be nice!

xx

PS If you don't have an iPhone you can click on the

little button up there and see our pics there

(I think!) - technology is still not my friend!

x

All encompassing I'd say.

That's how I'd describe owning & operating a shop that predominately stocks items you've designed, printed and often made yourself.

All encompassing.

And that is in no way intended to come across as a complaint.

We love our shop and find it incredibly fulfilling.

Unfortunately, our obsession with the shop can occasionally get in the way of other obligations & responsibilities.

For example - we pretty much never leave Newcastle.

This means we never visit the people we love who don't live very nearby. People we'd like to see much, much more of.

It's on "The List" but always gets pushed to the bottom when we have an idea for a new design or need to reorganise everything to squeeze in more sensational stock from another new Independent Designer etc

Anyway.

This year we've the absolute luxury of finally being in a position to employ a friend called Sarah to work a day a week. Maybe you've already made her acquaintance? Isn't she divine!

If you've not yet encountered her at Blackbird maybe you've met her at ArtHive - the Gallery she runs with her hubby and (more recently) Shana from Doll Eyes?

Hopefully once we all settle in to knowing which day "who is doing what day" without feeling spun out & unsettled -

Sean & I will go visiting!

It's so hard to take a step back!

But, it's nearly our 6th Birthday (well July 1st will be our 7th July the 1st) and we've decided that a step back is more than needed for the sake of friendships & familial cohesion!

Do you run a small business?

Do you get too wound up in it & forget other priorities too?

Or is it just us?

xxx

PS The above skirts are our latest. I design & prepare them, then my amazing sister Jen constructs them for me and sends them back ready to iron; tag & pop into stock!

See I have taken some steps back already!

There's only so many hours in the day!

x

Cat Rabbit BLISS

Have you heard of Cat Rabbit?

Cat-Rabbit is a Melbourne based textile artist whom I've admired for what feels like EVER!

She is just so ridiculously talented.

I have wanted one of her bespoke Peace Warriors for soooooo long! And guess what!?!

He just arrived. He is so very handsome.

I am completely smitten.

He is a belated Xmas gift from my beloved Sean.

He spoils me, I know.

And Cat-Rabbit is about to release a book that she's made with her friend Isabel Knowles. It is called Owl know how.

I cannot wait to get my hands on it!

xxx

Oh Betty!

"Betty Jo Designs is the creation of Melbournian Liz Jones.

The name Betty Jo is taken from a popular version of Elisabeth and a shortened version of Jones.

It also references the character from the 60's sitcom Petticoat Junction, as well as honouring all the fabulous Bettys I've met volunteering at opshops over the years!

Betty Jo Designs was started in 2005 and now can be found in over 70 stockists around Australia and New Zealand.

Betty Jo Designs is hand made by Liz in her studio in Brunswick with predomonately recycled and repurposed materials. All pieces are 100% Australian made, sweatshop free (on hot days there's only a little bit of her own sweat involved in the production!)"

Each piece purchased from Betty Jo Designs is guaranteed to be totally unique. You won't see another one exactly the same in the whole world.

And guess what!?

Blackbird Corner is about to become Newcastle's exclusive stockists of these exquisite creations!

I'm so excited!!

Yet another thing I LOVE about owning our little shop is stocking the creations of crafters that I've admired for YONKS.

xxx

PS. Betty Jo has recently opened a store in Brunswick, Victoria too!

It is called Gleaners Inc.

That is a must visit next time we go to Melbourne!

xxx

The Little Paper House Press

Who are you & why is your range called what it is called?
I'm Paula. Paper and a printing press is what brings our creations to life, hence The Little Paper House Press

Where are you located?
Sydney, Australia.

How long have you been creating your lush wares?
For about a year or so...

Do you currently have a favourite item in your range?
oohhh, I don't like to play favorites... I love them all.

What motivates you to keep crafting/creating?
Life, my loves and my family motivate me.

Are you someone who generally tends to buy Handmade over mass produced? Why?
Yes, because they are made with a love and passion not found in the mass produced world.

Do you have any new items in the pipe works that you'd like to hint to us about?
We are working on a special card for mum and letterpress gift tags.

Do you also sell online?
Yes

Would you like for me to link to your store for those poor people not able to get into Blackbird?
That would be wonderful,

www.thelittlepaperhousepress.bigcartel.com

Are you sick of answering these silly questions?
no :)

We have a lovely little range The Little Paper House Press cards in stock now! These complement the wooden drawers full of Anorak Greeting Cards in the back room nicely!

xxx

My 450th post on this blog! Nuts!

All you need to do is pop over to the

Blackbird Corner Facebook page to enter!

We just moved over to Facebook's new "timeline" - to be honest it hurts my brain, but I guess I'll adapt.

I actually left Myspace when it's format started looking all messy & out of control/order the way timeline does currently.

I'm sincerely hoping they iron out the many bugs and make it more orderly & pleasing to the eye very soon. That being said I like the "title page"-like top photo thingy and the message options now available for Business pages and do think it has potential...I just dislike change for the sake of change when it fails to impress and dazzle.

xxx

PS I used my 450th blog post to talk about Facebook?

Nuts.