A quick one - my kids!

It's been a while since I posted anything about my little darlings! I just can't resist showing a few new photos. Time just whirs by!

Ivie (my little baby) is now 16 months old! She started walking about a month ago, and I just love seeing her toddle around.

Nicholas (who is 3, going on 30!) adores his little sister (most of the time)! He is so sweet, and there is nothing cuter than seeing him hold her hand, cuddle, or kiss her.

And finally, one of 'my boys'. Aren't they lovely? Nicholas has a bit of a thing for band-aids at the moment, so that's what's on his chin...

I just have to mention Steve (my darling husband) this time aswell. I know I don't talk about him much, but I need to tell you how great he is. He deserves an award! Can you believe he sews and makes hair clips?! What an awesome man (though he would kill me if he knew I told you that!). Hehehe.

An Ordinary Life... A worthy humanitarian cause

I have recently been made aware of a project, of an amazing woman, Cate Bolt. Her website is titled 'An ordinary life', though it's anything but (ordinary, that is). I have been so inspired by what Cate and her family are doing, so I wanted to share this.

Cate is a mother of 9 from Queensland who is working toward a special project. Here is a little about the project (from Cate's website):



We love children, and we raise our children to love and respect the earth. I’m passionate about children and it pains me to see children suffering in any way. For those of you with children under 5, or even older, try this simple visualisation exercise for a moment:

Imagine taking your child into a crowded street at dusk, walking away from them and never going back. Imagine the fear in that child when they realise you’re gone. Imagine them wandering scared and hungry through the streets…imagine their life now, day after day.

If you can do this exercise without tears, then you are stronger than me, but for 1.8 million children in Indonesia, this is reality. Every night 1.8 million children in Indonesia sleep homeless. For most of us that number is unfathomable.

Over 50% of Indonesians survive on less than $2US per day. Of the 500,000 children in Indonesian orphanages today, almost 90% still have a living parent. They just simply cannot afford to feed them and out of desperation, many of these children are dumped in hope that someone more fortunate may be able to give them a better life.

Well, I am someone more fortunate and while my family is not wealthy, by any means, we plan to make a difference. My husband and I are both self employed, we have 9 children and we live, like many people, week-to-week. In a country like Indonesia where so many people are so very poor, a lot can be achieved with less money than one might expect. We are ordinary people, living an ordinary life – we are no different to you.

I don’t expect everyone to give up everything. I don’t expect everyone to build an orphanage. But EVERYONE can do something. Whether you donate to our project, or one of the dozens of other aid agencies, whether you just extend the hand of friendship to a colleague or stranger or whether you just take a “man in the mirror” moment and be the change that you want to see in the world. EVERYONE has the power to make some change in the world.

FUNDING FOR THE PROJECT

We are counting on the kindness and generosity of the greater community to raise a large percentage of the money required for this ambitious project. I have also started a program which will be continued by the house mothers in the village to raise a residual income to maintain the program – this is recycling unused/unwanted clothing and fabric items and making them into saleable fashion and homeware items, such as bags, placemats, quilts, aprons, pillow covers etc. We are also making wedding items from donated wedding dresses (including my own). I should have enough stock made up for a decent stall at the Eumundi Markets by summer (hopefully mid-late October) continuing indefinitely.

Other than that I have committed all the profits from my art & photography sales, and my husband and I have committed to donating 50% of the profits from our small online business also. Long term we plan to start a sponsorship program – as the major foreign aid agencies do.

We will be setting up an affiliates page on the website in the coming weeks, if you click on these links and make a purchase a percentage of your purchase will go to the IO&WR project.

Look out for charity events in 2010!



Amazing people, right? I have been touched by Cate and her family's generosity, and have just sent a box of bits that I don't need up to hopefully help with the project. Cate doesn't ask for monetary donations. The address for donations is also on the website.

Amazing. I am so glad to know that there are people out there who are so willing to give unto others. It takes a very special person to do what Cate is doing, and I hope that she gets all the support that she needs. Good Luck Cate!

I Love Posy Dolls!

Love them, love them, love them! They are one of my very favourite things.

When my Posy Dolls arrive, I get so excited! I love seeing them all for the first time. I have so much fun naming them, and I even get a little sad when I have to send them on their way. They are just divine!

My newest group arrived yesterday, and I have just finished putting them online. They always go so fast, so check them out as soon as you can!

Introducing a few of my favourites...

Frankie

Gracie
Anabella



Daphne

Remember, they are all one-of-a-kind, so you need to be quick!

Trifle Shoppe - Launching today!!!

That's right! I'm very excited! The site looks gorgeous, and the grand opening should be huge!

ABOUT TRIFLE SHOPPE

Shopping as we know it has changed. Welcome to Trifle.

We invite you to stroll through our layers of lovely and take a trip around the globe in the process, for at Trifle you'll find over 60 designers hand picked from around the world.

Here, innovation meets design. One click and you can order from our collaboration of designers, niche companies, handmade artists and amazing start-up companies destined for greatness. One click sorts through countries and currencies to help you find products you will simply adore.

We have a philosophy of doing things a little differently. We believe in the power of synergies, where collaboration triumphs over competition.

Detail over Retail every time. Trifle is the community garden of design, where passions and ideas are shared for the benefit of all.

Here, you can indulge your senses and enjoy a vast array of products. The world is changing and we believe that it's all good. Enjoy your Trifle experience.

MiniLaLa is amongst 60 handpicked designers from around the world featured on Trifle Shoppe, and the range of gorgeous things is amazing! You have to check it out. I feel very honoured to have been chosen amongst these amazingly talented women (yes, all women).

So, for this weekend only, I'm offering a 20% discount on all MiniLaLa TrifleShoppe orders!!! Simply enter the code 'LoveTrifleShoppe' at checkout. I look forward to seeing you there!!

Nappies, Nappies, Nappies!

Gosh, it has been so long! I'm sure many of you are getting frustrated with me! Thank you for your endless patience with me and my nappy stockings! I don't want to make excuses, but please let me explain...

Well, as you might know, we moved house (and cities) a month ago - so no nappies... I did plan on having a lottery in early July, however, I ordered my waterproof material from a new 'supplier' in early June. Ordered quite a bit so that it would last me a few months. Two months later, that has not arrived!!!

I am not happy, to say the least!!! This particular shop has neglected to answer emails, and I cannot get through on the phone (they are in Canada). So anyway, I have given up on that shop - lost many weeks, and many hundreds of dollars! I have just placed a PUL order at the very reliable and helpful Tiny Toosh. Lisa will get my PUL here quick-smart as always, so I hope to have a lottery before August is over. That will be thanks mostly to Delma, my angel (sewing helper)! She is a Godsend!

Now, on the manufacture side of things.... This is very exciting! My patterned material has just arrived on my manufacturer's doorstep, so I would expect my first lot of nappies to be complete in about 3-4 weeks! HOORAY! I believe they will take somewhere between 3-6 weeks to get to me after that (broad, I know - will find out more later). So, all going well, September will be MiniLaLa month!!!!!! Are you as excited as I am!!??

I'm going to come back soon with an update, hopefully with good news on timeframes, and of course, to let you know which patterns will become available with the first shipment. I'll also have some stockists to introduce!

It's all happening! Once again, I know there are many of you who are tearing your hair out waiting for me (and I'm taking my time)! Thank you for your patience - MiniLaLa loves you all!

Trifle - Layers of Lovely

Haven't heard of it? Here's a bit about Trifle, from creator, Louise:

The world is changing. We created a site for industry members a while back called Skout Trade Fair. This was started in order to try to do business a little differently. With passion, with heart, with dignity and respect, with a view to collaboration and not competition. Skout Trade Fair's aim is to share information, to help other people in business and to pay it forward so we all succeed and grow and prosper.

Trifle is an extension of this philosophy.

As a former children's wear designer I knew there had to be a better way to bring products to the market. Trifle, is an online shopping experience for the consumer like no other anywhere in the world. Customers can shop from a choice of over 60 hand picked designers – all in the one place. Better still customers can buy from different designers, from different parts of the world, in different currencies with one click.


Trifle is made up of over 60 designers from various sectors of the kids products industry. The store is made up of high end, well established designers, niche companies, handmade artists and one or two start up companies who we believe in.
Trifle is the community garden of the design world.

We would love your support in gaining some exposure for the launch (August 14th 2009) of this new initiative.
MiniLaLa has been asked to be amongst these hand-picked designers, and I am very excited!

Head over to the Trifle blog to see the amazing women (yes, all women!) who make up the 'layers'. You can also join the mailing list on the Trifle website. Oh, and while you're at it, there's always Twitter!


And...


One last thing.... Nappies - ETA is late August/early September. I may have some made before then, but tragically, I have had some serious issues with a new supplier, and my waterproof material (alot of it!) has gone AWOL! I'm not happy (and I take it you aren't either)! I'll let you know...

I love Legruffles!

I have something new to show you! They're called Legruffles, and they are by Huggalugs (one of my fave Aussie enviro-conscious designers). Aren't they gorgeous?

Ivie and I already have some. Grab some for yourself at www.minilala.com.au

Oh, and the move went well.... As well as can be expected with a small truck, multiple thousand kilometres and two toddlers! Thanks so much for your patience with me during the move (and continuing...)!

Moving!

Yay! I'm sure you've all heard my whinging about house-hunting. Well, no more - I did think we may end up homeless, but we finally have a house! We are moving to Melbourne this weekend!! We haven't packed a thing (crazy, I know)!

Anyway, I do need to let you all know that MiniLaLa will be closed from tomorrow, June 23rd, until Monday, July 13th. I'm really sorry if this causes any inconvenience! Any orders placed during the closure dates will be posted upon our return. Thank you for your understanding.

Now to pack, and get there - it's gonna be a huge - no make that a massive, gigantic, monstrous - week! Wish me luck!!

Finally, some nappy news for you...

So, after 10 months on the market, and 8 very stressful weeks of waiting for our buyers finance to be approved, our house is officially sold! Now, after months of trying to organise without anything set in stone, we can work on dates. We will move out of here by July 3rd.

Yay for us!

We are still trying to find a house in Melbourne. I have travelled the 3 hours down and the 3 hours back (and around and around!) 4 times this month! I am a little over it! We are going down again this weekend, hopefully for the last time before we move.

As for nappies, we hope to have a lottery very soon after the move.

As most of you would know, it's been 6 or 7 months since I first started my search to find a manufacturer, but I am happy to say that I have finally found 'the one'!

We are almost ready to go ahead with production, and I'm hoping that by August, we can do away with the lottery altogether. I'm very excited, and it will be such a huge relief to be able to finally supply all of you lovely people (well, your babies) with MiniLaLa nappies!

I'll keep you up to date as best I can over the next few very busy weeks!

My big boy!

I've been neglecting this blog a little bit lately, but here I am! Things have been so ridiculously busy here with planning a move, plus both kids birthdays, not to mention the business...

Yesterday was Nicholas' third birthday. We had a little get together on the weekend, and Nick had a fabulous time! He is so grown-up and clever these days! I'm so proud of my big boy!

Here are a few pictures of my darling three-year-old:


Of course we had to have another candle-blowing ceremony on Nick's 'real' birthday too

Ivie even had a turn


Nicholas adores Ivie so much - it just melts my heart!


Aren't they just gorgeous!!

Here's one I just had to share: Ivie doing her first wee on the potty last night! Isn't she cute? So clever, my kids :)


I will be back to update about the nappies and all things MiniLaLa soon, I promise!