Photographing children...

Children's photographers must have some kind of Mary-Poppins-esque powers I think.

When I try to photograph my own children, I end up with maybe a 1% success rate, and the rest are of face-pulling, blurred, hitting, writhing, tantrum-throwing little monsters (well, I must say, one is a bit worse than the other, LOL)! It takes me FOREVER to get what I need when trying to do 'product shoots'.

For example, I was trying to photograph the kids in my mealtime bibs the other day....

I did get a few cute ones...

You can see more of the good ones on the website

Here's our attempt at a Daddy and kids shot.... funny.... sort of.

This is why I love to have professional photos taken. They just make it look so lovely and easy. Of course I have to mention my most favourite ever photographer, Kristen Cook. She's in Melbourne, and is simply amazing! See MiniLaLa for some of her delicious work!

Go Saints!

I just have to share these photos of my gorgeous children! We are big St Kilda supporters here (we are all members - even Ivie!), so of course travelled across to Shepparton for the practise match against Richmond on Friday night - which St Kilda won by a mile :-)

How cute are these two? Ivie certainly looked the part, but slept through the entire match! Nicholas had an absolute ball - it gets more fun each time! He and I went down to the fence so that he could see the players as they came off the field and he was calling out to them by name, LOL!

Don't you just love Ivie's skirt? I have to give it a plug here - it's a OSFM skirt by Knuffle Kid. It's on the smallest setting for Ivie, but snaps out to fit up to 4,5,6 years old - cool, huh? I still have some left from La La Baby. They are made in Melbourne, and retail at $49.95, but if you'd like one, make me an offer and I'll see what I can do...

While I'm at it, take a look at my grown-up girl. She is now over 10 months! We turned her carseat around this week.

Boohoo! Where did the time go!? And Nicholas - well, he's two-and-a-half (just ask him!), going on 22! He is such a bossy-boots. I have no idea where he gets that from.... ;-) He's so clever, and absolutely divine (except on long car trips - like today, LOL)! I'm very lucky.

I'm a little slow.....

With these double-orders from the February stocking, that is! I'm almost there, but I have to send out massive apologies to those of you who are still waiting!

I had planned on having the next stocking late this month, but I'll just have to see how I go. I do get alot of emails (ALOT) asking if I can make custom orders, and it really pains me to say no! I really wish I could!! Find me an extra 24 hours in each day, and I might be able to, but for now....

OK, so remember the competition I ran at last month's stocking for those who purchased velour wipes? The prize was a $100 clothing package, and the lucky person whose name my lovely husband drew out was Nadia!! Nadia has been kind enough to let me splash her gorgeous daughter, Amie's, photos around all over the place - she's just so cute that I can't resist! Here's the very sweet, and very deserving Amie

Don't you just love the nappies all around her? Like she's basking in the MiniLaLa. Oh, ok, here's another: Amie with the lovely Violet (if you haven't yet discovered these gorgeous Posy dolls, head over to MiniLaLa now!)

I just love, love, LOVE receiving photos of your delicious little babies in their MiniLaLa, so keep 'em coming! I want to share the love (and the cuteness), so here are a few of the most recent ones I have received - too cute!

Imogen

Archie

Cooper and Gemma

I would show you all the babies, but I'd be here all day. You can see them all in the baby gallery here

In other news, I have some new fabrics!!!! Oooooh, I love getting new fabrics! I can spend hours just looking at them. Ooohing and ahhing over the prettiness. I'm going to be cheeky and just show you a few though, hahaha (that should read like an evil laugh, by the way)!

That's just a tiny taste. You'll have to wait to see the rest! I have 15 or so.....

Another thing - this is very important! - I am going to start using my website newsletter as the main source of information in regards to stockings, ballots, member specials, competitions and announcements, so if you haven't already, please go to the MiniLaLa website, and subscribe to the newsletter. I will still blog, but it will mostly be this type of general chatter. The really important stuff will now be reserved for the newsletter (just to save me doubling up).

Well, that didn't quite go to plan.....

Isn't that the understatement of the century!!!!?

I don't even know where to begin. Thank you! Sorry! I have never been so stressed in my life!

My apologies if I didn't reply to your email, or if it takes me a few days. There were literally thousands of people trying to buy tonight, so I understand that many of you are annoyed. If I could make any more I would!!!

I have had many kind suggestions about how to make more nappies, lol! I was trying to keep it hush-hush, but I am in the process of finding a manufacturer, but these things do take time. I promise there will come a day when these crazy stockings are a thing of the past... Trust me, if you were stressed, multiply that by 1000 and thats me!!! Please remember that I sew every nappy myself (with a little help from my darling husband).

Please bear with me (Oh yeah, if you got that email, I didn't actually want you to 'bear me'! Was slightly frazzled, LOL!). I will get back to each of you over the next few days. I will also warn you that I had ALOT of oversales, so I will be in touch if you have one of those and we'll sort that out.

Now, here's a laugh: A self portrait of me at 8.50pm (now you know how much trouble I go to getting 'dressed' for work - forgive the scariness!) - on the phone to Matt, my web developer (who later likened me to a crack dealer, lol!), husband at work, trying to smile through my fear, Ivie in sling as she refused to settle, trying to count nappies as there were only 10 minutes to go (though ended up that I couldn't even get on to load them!), and you can't see Nicholas (who was supposed to be in bed) eating the leftovers of his pasta which I hadn't disposed of after his 6pm dinner!

...And I can assure you, it didn't get any better after that.... All I can do is laugh!

Seriously though, I appreciate your support so much, and cannot thank you enough for sticking with me through that tonight... May it never, ever happen again :-)

Are you ready?

Judging by my inbox, you're all ready and waiting for Monday's stocking!

Well, here they are:

The AIOs:

I only have 6 smalls (the stack on the right), the two stacks in the middle are medium, and the two on the left are large.

The pockets:

I've generally got 2-5 of each pattern.

All stacked up and ready to be finished (I need to sew tabs on)

I have really cut it fine this month (not that the last stocking was any different)! With all my sewing machine dramas, travelling the countryside for various reasons, sick kids, etc, etc. I didn't get as many nappies made as I had hoped. Still plenty though.

The good news is that my new machine is fabulous! I know that next month will be more productive.

As those of you who witnessed the last stocking will know, the nappies will go ridiculously quickly! It is first through the checkout gets the goods, so I'd recommend signing up for an account before Monday to get through quicker.

The site now has an 'add-on' postage option to make it simple to check out more than once without doubling up on postage. This proved to be a good option last time with some people getting as many as 5 nappies!

Also, remember that if you want anything other than nappies - velour wipes, hair clips, Huggalugs etc - you can add those to your cart before 9pm.

And...I'll be running a little competition: simply purchase a set of velour wipes on Monday night to be in the draw to win a goodies pack worth over $100!

So 9pm EDST, Monday. I have alot to do before then! See you there!!

I could not have imagined...

When I wrote my last post, I had absolutely no idea of the scale of this disaster.

Saturday had brought the most horrible, unbelievable weather conditions that I have ever seen. Here, as in most parts of Victoria, it was a sweltering 46.5 degrees celsius (almost 116 fahrenheit). Not only was the heat unbearable, but the wind was travelling at speeds of up to 110km/h. I knew it had been the worst possible conditions for fire, but just never could have imagined the damage that could be done.

Re-reading my last post, I feel a little naive. The headline on Sunday's paper read that 14 people had died. Now, that was an absolute tragedy. Of course it couldn't get much worse - right? They did say that it was possible that up to 40 people may have lost their lives. I didn't believe it.

Obviously, I wasn't the only one who underestimated the ferocity of this fiery demon.

The photo of the smoke here on Sunday was about double on Monday. And you know, we were a good 60km away from the fire. Every person I speak to knows someone who has been adversely affected by these fires... or worse. You have all seen the images... Unspeakable...

It really is something that you could never, ever imagine facing. To each and every person who has been affected (there are so, so many), I am so very sorry, and like all of us, I'm sure, I feel so helpless. Nothing will ever take away the horror that you have all lived through. I just wish we could do more. I wish we could turn back time....

The last I heard, 181 people had lost their lives..... One. Hundred. And. Eighty. One. With more expected to be found. More than 1000 families have lost their homes. Entire towns have been obliterated.

Of course you know all this, but no matter how many times I hear it, I just cannot imagine how it is possible. Right on my own doorstep. Just so horrific. So tragic.

I will be donating money to the Red Cross Bushfire Appeal - 50% of profits from the sales of all remaining stock at La La Baby (I will make the donation when the shop closes).

I will also be donating 10 sets of MiniLaLa hairclips (maybe more if someone buys them) to Handmade Help.

100% will go to the appeal. That is, every cent you pay for the hair clips will go to the Red Cross Bushfire Appeal. There are also many other gorgeous handmade things of which funds will be donated.

I'm sure most Australians have or will be doing the same, as we are all so deeply touched by this disaster. To my international friends, I ask you to please consider donating some money. Every cent is much needed. These people have suffered so badly. The more that we can raise, the sooner these people can start to get their lives, and homes rebuilt. Unfortunately, we will never, ever forget....

Smoke and nappies...

Aren't these bushfires awful? We are at least a hundred kilometres from any of the large fires, yet we still awoke to a thick smoky haze. Here is a picture I took this morning of the view down our street

I can't imagine how scary it must be for those more closely affected. My thoughts are with you all.

Today, I've been working on nappies for the next stocking. Here are the pockets which will be up for sale. Some are stitched and waiting for closure tabs, some are waiting to be topstitched... There are lots!

'When can I buy one', you ask? Be at MiniLaLa ready and waiting at 9pm EDST (Melbourne time) on Monday, 16th February... I'll be back later in the week to update with styles and sizes available.

So, the thing is....

I was all set, all excited, for a stocking this Monday or Tuesday, but 2 weeks ago, disaster struck...

My darling sewing machine had a turn.... I cosied her up, packed her in the car and travelled the 260ish kms to Melbourne to get her the best care possible. They needed her to stay in for a week. When the call came that she was ready for pick up last Thursday, I packed the kids up, and got down there asap. I was so relieved and happy to have my little Janome home with me, and I was ready to get to work! That night, I made a shocking discovery.... My machine was not healed. She may never be healed. She has had a tough life, and at just 6 years young, she doesn't have much time left. Sadly, I will be saying goodbye to my beloved friend. She has been there for me all these years, and I'm very sad to have to let her go.

After a few days madly searching and researching, I found a new machine. Nicholas, Ivie and I travelled 90kms to Shepparton yesterday, and returned home with my new Bernina. Now, she's not much to look at, but I know she has a good heart, and she's in it for the long haul. She's a hard worker, and willing to get through the tough stuff. I think we'll be good friends.

So, the thing is.... The MiniLaLa stocking has now been pushed back, as I have many nappies to sew, but I will keep you in the loop. Talk to you soon!

Hi! Remember me...?

Yes, it's been a while...! I hope you all had a great Christmas, and a very happy new year! Thanks for following me into 2009!

Things have been chaotic, to say the least! I've been working on the nappies for the next stocking, but mostly on my new website, which is now live at www.minilala.com.au! Very exciting! I'm very happy with it, and I'm sure you'll find the functionality much better than the old one. A special thanks to Matt at Webnovation for the great site, and the fantastic service!

You'll notice a few new items at MiniLaLa, and you might be wondering where they came from. Well, they came from LaLaBaby, which is closing down (everything is on sale, so pop in and grab a bargain). Like I said, things are chaotic! I've had a little too much on my plate lately, and something had to give... I'm sad to say goodbye to my baby of the past two years (almost), but I'm excited about the future for MiniLaLa! These few special things that I just couldn't let go of are the Posy Dolls, Dummy Clips, Huggalugs, and Hair clips, to name a few. These are all available right now.


The next nappy stocking will most likely take place in the second week of February. I'm currently looking for some help making the nappies so that I can attempt to have the shop stocked for good at some stage, but it may be a while off....

In other news, my babies are growing up too fast! Nicholas is just about toilet trained (so no more MiniLaLa's for him, boohoo!), and Ivie is getting around the place, commando style! They're both divine!

I also just have to share with you these photos that I had taken of Ivie in her MiniLaLa nappies. I got them done for the site, brochures, and for the cuteness! I have been following Kristen Cook's blog for quite some time now. She is such an amazingly talented photographer, and I was so excited to have her take these photos!! As you can see, she has just outdone herself once again....






You just have to visit Kristen's website to see her amazing work... and I'll have more where these came from soon!

Please head over to the new website. Have a look around... Join the mailing list... I'll be back soon to let you know when you can grab a nappy!

Have a very happy (and safe) Australia Day!!!!

And the winners are.....

Nicholas has drawn the December ballot. Thank you so much to everyone who entered, I really wish that I could make nappies for each and every one of you! I could not resist choosing more than one (and neither could Master Nick).

So here they are:

Congratulations to Caroline, Kat, Donna, and Karla. Now, hopefully I'll have enough time to make nappies for next months stocking after I make all yours!

I'm so sorry to those of you who missed out this time. I will run another ballot after next months stocking, so you will have another chance.

In other news, I am still so far behind! OK, so that is actually not new.... I really hope to start getting ahead with the nappies sometime soon, so that noone has to miss out. 2008 was chaotic for me (to say the least!). I hope that 2009 will be a little more relaxed, but that may have to wait til the second half of the year, as we are planning a move, amongst other things for the coming months - not to mention 2 kids, and all these nappies!

I hope that you all had a wonderful Christmas, and a safe and happy new year. Here's to 2009!