blossom creations

Hello... And goodbye. I've decided to stop writing over here.

2010-05-22T06:06:00.000-07:00

Hello... And goodbye.

I've decided to stop writing over here. I've got enough keeping me busy these days and don't really have a lot to say over here anymore so have decided to call it a day...

You can still keep up to date with blossom creations on our website or on our facebook page.

Thanks for stopping by and reading over the last 3 years!

Erin x

Kitchen Towels

2010-05-03T19:54:00.000-07:00

Where did that week go?!? I'm super busy so will make this very quick...

My next new product is the kitchen towels. I have tried and tested A LOT of natural/cotton-alternative fabrics for tea towels over the years and have been disappointed by a number of them in terms of absorbency, softness etc.

These 100% Linen towels are the best I've tested and are so nice to use. They get softer and softer with each wash and actually soak up water - something many other fabrics don't do!
Still being a natural fibre, Linen is an old fibre crop from the flax plant is one of earth’s earliest natural fibres to be made into cloth. It requires significantly less water to grow than cotton.

The design is based on the buds design - I wasn't ready to let it go so decided to apply it to another surface and am happy with how it turned out - simple and pretty.

I sold out of these at the Finder's Keepers market and was so happy people loved them as much as I do.

OK gotta dash, no promises as to when I'll be back. Got a lot on the go at the moment so will see you when I see you!

ANZAC Day

2010-04-24T22:31:00.000-07:00

This morning we went to a dawn service for ANZAC Day. Lucky for us it was just down the road from us, so we could walk there (at the dark & foggy time of 5:00am). We were blown away by how many people there were there, and by the breathtaking parade complete with bagpipers, war veterans, and soldiers marching (if bagpipes don't wake you up at 5am, nothing will!).

I was quite moved by the ceremony, something else that surprised me. It's only recently I suppose that I've come to realise that by commemorating people who have died in war, doesn't make you in favour of or a supporter of war, and isn't glorifying it either. I guess I used to think it did and chose not to participate much in the day...
In fact for me today it was quite the opposite, more sad and reflective. Was it because I now look at the world through the eyes of a mother I wonder? Not sure but I came to the conclusion that ANZAC Day can be whatever you want it to be...

So after going home and having a nap, I guess we got further into the spirit - my husband meeting friends for drinks and no doubt a spot of two-up, and I decided to make some ANZAC biscuits.

I debated about whether to share this with you or not - it's my grandmother's recipe so I half wanted to keep it a secret - how selfish I know! But after making them and deciding they were the best I've ever made, I thought I'd let you in on the world's best ANZAC biscuit recipe, lucky you ;)
It may very well be the same as hundreds of others out there (who knows, my grandmother might've got the recipe from Woman's Weekly or something!) but I prefer to think it was an original war-time recipe she'd kept for years, so let's go with that, shall we?

ANZAC Biscuits

1 cup of rolled oats
3/4 cup desiccated coconut
1 cup plain flour
1 cup sugar
100g butter
1 tablespoon golden syrup
1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
2 tablespoons of boiling water

In a large bowl combine oats, coconut, flour and sugar.
Melt butter and golden syrup over a low heat until melted and combined.
Pour butter mixture over dry ingredients, mix well.
Add bicarbonate of soda to boiling water and while still fizzing, add to other ingredients and mix well.
Roll spoonfuls (I use a rather large heaped teaspoon full) into balls and place on greased tray, allowing room for spreading.
Push down on each ball with the back of a spoon or a fork.
Bake in a moderate oven for about 20 minutes.
Allow to cool and store in an airtight container - or just eat them all in one sitting.

This made about 30 for me today, depends on your biscuit size.
I managed to get them perfectly crunchy on the outside and a little bit chewy on the inside (the perfect ANZAC bikkie I think!), but I've made them before in different ovens with mixed results. Like most biscuit/cookie baking it really depends on the oven.

I'd love to hear if anyone actually makes these, please let me know if you do!

Enjoy x

new products - the lowdown...

2010-04-22T21:02:00.000-07:00

Hello again. So I've had a good night's sleep (that website really took it out of me) and am ready to tell you a bit more about the first of many lovely new things you'll find on my website...

The tapes! Pictured above. I've been in love with these tapes for a very long time. I first saw them (in Japan?) a few years ago and was given a roll by a friend after her trip to Japan a couple of years ago. It was then I started thinking about how I could have more of this tape in my life!

Over the course of a year I was in contact with the Japanese manufacturer trying to get the tapes but with a baby arriving, a maternity break, and a big move, things moved slowly... And in the meantime the rest of the world discovered them and they became a cult stationery item that has been slpashed around the web... But that doesn't matter I figure, the important thing is I've got them now - and so do you!!

They're made from rice paper (washi), are reusable, biodegradable, they don't leave a sticky residue on surfaces, and they can be used in SO MANY different ways. Did I mention they come in a range of fantastic colours and great designs? I am obsessed with these tapes, I hope you will be too!

Check out what others have done with the tape with these fantastic summaries put together by i Do It Yourself:

iDIY roundup #1
iDIY roundup #2
iDIY roundup #3
iDIY roundup #4

(Just some of the many links and examples you'll find around the place)...

Over the course of next week I'll tell you the story behind some of the other new products.
Have a great weekend (long weekend if you're in Australia).

x

news news news

2010-04-22T05:37:00.000-07:00

I. Can't. Believe. I'm. Finished...

New website up now.
New products.
Great sale items.
Join us on Facebook.
Buy a gift certificate.

It's all there...

I can't believe I can finally reveal the brilliant new product I've been talking to you about for so long. I wish I could tell you more but my brain hurts, talk to you a bit later, ok? Will tell you lots lots more, I promise.

x

P.S. I've quadruple checked the site but the first one to email me with any probs you might encounter (links that don't work, funny alignment, etc. etc.), you'll be nicely compensated! Doesn't hurt to have a few editors out there!

The Drawing Board

2010-04-15T05:23:00.000-07:00

Hi I'm still here. I've been working day and night on my new website and nothing else. I always forget how much effort is involved in doing a website overhaul, so much attention to detail needed. I get frustrated (or bored?) easily doing some of the tedious tasks needed in designing a website, my main reason for not doing more web design. I sometimes get people asking me to do a website for them but to me, unless you've got A LOT of free time, it's not the kind of thing you do in your free time for others. It's the kind of thing you commit to doing as I job I think... Unless you're really good at it or just really really love it. Neither of which applies to me!

Anyway, it's going well. Realistically I'll probably need another week to completely finish it off and be ready to launch so there won't be much else to report for a while. I'm just desperate to get it finished and get back up and running again as a business. When I've needed a break away from the computer I've been taking inventory, re-organising shelves, working on new systems and processes etc. and feel really enthusiastic about work in general which is a good thing.

Oh, nearly forgot - our kitchen towels have made their way onto the pages of Marie Claire this month, check it out next time you see a copy. I'd show you the page but I'm without a scanner at the moment.

Ok, back to Dreamweaver I go...

x

New products, new website, all coming very soon!

2010-03-29T22:59:00.000-07:00

Hello again. I've been a busy lady lately. I've had two weeks without the job and am just starting to sink my teeth back into this work I love so much. The first week was spent catching up on well overdue bits and pieces around the house and last week we went on a "holiday" we'd had planned for a few months. I say "holiday" because we went straight into the path of Cyclone Ului and had a pretty average time but I won't bore you with the details.

Anyway, back into it this week. I'm updating my website at the moment so thought I'd give this blog a little refresh as well while I was at it. A new header, fonts and colours make a nice change. Can't wait to show you my website, it's looking really cute so far (if I may say so myself). Not long till I'm done hopefully.

The pic above is of one of the new products I'll be adding to the range soon. Building blocks! These are made from salvaged/recycled timber, hand cut, sanded and finished with a natural beeswax finish. Each set comes in a calico bag printed with one of two cute designs. You like?

For a while now I think, I've been alluding to a new product I was getting that I was super excited about... Well, it should land on my doorstep any day this week and I can't wait to share it with you. You. Will. Die. Well, I hope not but you might faint. If you're anything like me.

I've had a very sleepy baby today which has allowed me to get a lot of work done. Just hope he's not coming down with something. He's decided to get another four teeth all at once so maybe just needs some extra rest.

Back to work!

x

Entertainment

2010-03-11T05:26:00.000-08:00

Please oh please don't let it be over... I just watched what felt like the final episode of The Gourmet Farmer. But can't tell if it's really the end or just the end of the season...?

Just when I've found a show I can't miss each week. If you're not sure what I'm talking about have a look at the website (you can watch some previous episodes there). Gosh, I admire what he's done so much, every week I find myself saying "I want to do that!" or "You know, one day I'm going to keep bees...", or "What a life this guy has" (and so on and so on)...

Please come back Mr. Gourmet Farmer!

Anyone else hooked?

x

P.S. On a completely opposing note - I finally got around to watching Coco Avant Chane l (I know, I know, latey potatey...). But... How divine is that movie? But it's left me thinking, was it the movie so much or is it just Audrey Tautou? She could play a hessian sack or a lamp post and I'd still be wishing I could just be her... Sigh...

(Images from Gourmet Farmer website)

Told you I'd be back soon ;) These are a couple of pics taken

2010-02-23T23:22:00.000-08:00

Told you I'd be back soon ;)

These are a couple of pics taken back in November last year at the Brisbane Finder's Keepers market. Just thought I'd put them up here to give you a little sneak peek of the new products to be uploaded to my website soon.

Soon. I promise!

My blankie is gone...

2010-02-22T17:12:00.000-08:00

Hello. I'm usually a bit shy about putting my face up here but I love this one.

Was December really the last time I wrote? That's a long time ago... Well good news, I should have a bit more free time on my hands these days so you should hopefully be hearing more from me from now on.

You see, when I started my business back in '07, I took on a part-time job to pay the bills while I got myself started. I gave myself a year tops in that job (a little bit of design but mostly unrelated to anything I want to be doing...). Well, it turns out they were really nice to work for and the money was great, so it became a kind of security blanket for me. At times I think it's prohibited me from progressing in my own business although overall it's allowed me to go forward, giving me the time I needed away from a full time workload to get myself started.

So a year turned into a few years and when I found out I was pregnant I thought it would be a great time to cut my ties and leave them for good. Until they offered me an impossibly good deal - paid maternity leave, work from home (new laptop computer, phone etc. etc...), flexible working hours and so on and so on... So there I was again getting further from where I wanted to be and clinging more and more to that blankie...

Well, I've been at it for almost 5 months now and the work/life balance juggling act has been near impossible. Between looking after a baby, running a household, and working part time for someone else - my own business has suffered (let's face it - been totally neglected).

So that was a long way to tell you that I finally took the plunge and decided to call it quits with the job. What a relief. A little scary (it really was my security blanket!), but overall the best decision I could've made.

So I'm looking forward to catching up and picking up where I left off (but mostly being a Mother first and most importantly). I have a lot of ideas I'm not sure what to do with, and there are a lot of areas where I'm completely out of ideas and have no idea what to do! But at least now I'll hopefully have the time to work through them which is a lot more that what I had before.

x