Sharing is caring...

I am sometimes surprised at the amount some pages share with their fans...I love connecting with those of you that follow my page, but I'm sure you don't want to know about some of the crazy goings-on in my household or personal dramas!

I once saw a post on a business page (ages ago) about the business owner not coping very well with a tummy bug...and it was very detailed. Ummmm...those visuals are not fun for anyone! Fair enough if that's on my friend's wall - I can sympathise - but not on a business page!

But that's just me. What do I know? Some pages share everything (and I mean everything!) with their followers. How much is too much?

I can only go by what I like to see...and that is:

- business related posts (new products, sales, upcoming markets, etc)
- diy / craft related posts
- Pinterest (am addicted)
- things that will make me giggle
- personal posts (within reason) that help me feel connected to the page

I love pages that connect with the followers and make you feel like you're part of a little community. That feeling meant so much to me when I first stayed home on maternity leave with Emily Mae. Facebook was one of my lifelines...so many kind people who have become real friends.

I would love to keep that feeling going on my page...I don't know how I'm going to do it, but I'm going to try. Any suggestions you have would be very helpful, I'd love to have your input.

Nat xx

It's been a while!

Hi! It's been a long time since I've posted on my blog! I've finally updated it with my new logo and colour theming, so feeling a little more on track. I've had to ignore my blog for a while ~ I was juggling a lot for a while there with work, a small business, a 2 year old and pregnancy with bub no. 2. No matter how much I tried to convince myself, I couldn't do it all!

So now I've finished work, finished renovating the house (that was a mission!) and am now happily kicking back crafting to my heart's content and chilling out with Miss Emily Mae. I think she's a bit taken aback with the more relaxed 'mum-mum', compared to the frantic mess she was used to seeing in the last few months! It's a nice change.

If you're a fan on Facebook, you may have already seen a few of the new products I've been creating lately:

Fun & Frolic Earrings

I love these mainly because of the colours...are you seeing a general theme? Love teal and mustard yellow!

 Christmassy chevron!

 Oh deer!

I'm thrilled to be making these:

Storybook Wooden Bunting

'twas the Night Before Christmas

 Sleeping Beauty

 Mickey's Picnic

I'm also working on some custom wooden bunting orders created using scrapbooking paper and embellished with children's names ~ perfect for a nursery! Once bub arrives I will have to make a set for myself!

Hopefully you'll see a lot more of me now on Facebook and writing more blog posts...bub is due to arrive in the next week or so but in the meantime I'm stocking up on new products and hatching new ideas for Little Puddles for the new year. I would love to do a couple of markets in the lead up towards Christmas but somehow I don't think I'll be able to fit that in!

Thanks for reading ~ it's good to be back! And happy Friday!

Nat xx

It's nice to be back...

I know I said I was taking some time off, but truth be told, that lasted all of five minutes! I had so many ideas for new products for Little Puddles, I couldn't wait to get started!

And here they are, my gorgeous new Oof-Oof's! Made for originally for Emily Mae (who love running around yelling 'oof!' when she hears our neighbour's dog), I loved making these so much, I decided to welcome them to Little Puddles.

I  have also been having loads of fun handstitching baby blankets. I love quilting and am slowly working my way through the famous Tail Feathers quilt...a present for myself that will take many many months to complete, but I will enjoy every stitch! Photos of baby blankets will be coming soon.

Stay tuned to my facebook page in the coming weeks for a special Christmas sale, and more details of my new products available for purchase. My website is also under construction at the moment to update it with my new stock, please contact me directly at nat@littlepuddles.com.au for any enquiries.

{ANNOUNCEMENT} Time for change

I feel like I say the same thing in every blog post, few and far between they may be, but it's true...it's been really really busy here at Little Puddles HQ. So much so, that I've decided it's time for change.

I work part-time, I am a 'yummy mummy' (I wish!) to Emily Mae, and I am a small business owner. I always knew at some point, I wouldn't be able to 'do it all', hard as I tried.

So I'm taking a break / sabbatical / holiday. As of 1 August, I am not scheduled to do any markets until November, and I'll be keeping it that way. I will be doing a final update to my website, then will let it quietly run in the background. I may do a Facebook sale once or twice, but mostly, I'll be staying quiet and away from my Facebook page.

I'm looking forward to some time off. I'm going to sew a quilt, design some new products, and really evaluate where I want to take Little Puddles in 2012. I've always wanted to learn to sew children's clothes, so I may even take a course. And of course, I'm going to spend some wonderful quality time with my gorgeous girl and gorgeous husband.

Thank you all so much for your support over the last year, it's been wonderful to grow Little Puddles into what it is today...who would have thought 600+ people would 'like' my little business! I appreciate your support during my break and look forward to being back online in November.

In the meantime, come visit me at the gorgeous Sugar & Spice Market at St Alipius Hall, Ballarat on the 31st of July. It's my last market for a little while so drop by and say hello, I'd love to see you.

With thanks,
Nat xx

Time to get organised...

You may have noticed I've been slightly tardy with my blog posts these last few months...time has been getting away from me! As such, I have decided to get organised. On my To-Do list was to post the following on my business page on Facebook:

* * * * * * * * *

I currently work part-time (Mon/Tue/Thur) and as such, can only respond to customer enquiries on certain days. Please see below:
* Postage - occurs every Friday, unless the purchase is required urgently
* Email enquiries - responded to every Wednesday and Friday
* Crafting - on Saturdays and Sundays!
As some of you may already know, I have a beautiful 1 year old baby girl, Emily Mae, so I'm sure you understand why I must structure my week in order to juggle work, spend quality time with Emily Mae, and keep my house in order...with a bit of crafting thrown in on the side! Thank you for your understanding, and as mentioned above, if purchases are required urgently, or if you do have an enquiry that needs to be attended to urgently, please let me know and I will do my best to accomodate you.

* * * * * * * * *

I am also going to be taking down this blog, and finding a more user friendly version to use...Blogger is just not working for me. I can't post more than one photo at a time, I can't change fonts, it crashes on me all of the time...frustrating! So if any of you lovely people out there have any hints or tips for me, I would really appreciate it!

Hopefully, once I have sorted out the blog situation, and organised my time a bit better, I can spend some time doing what I really love...loads of super awesome fun time with Emily Mae, and CRAFTING!!! I have so many new ideas...stay tuned!

Thanks for reading,

Nat xx

Temptations

I must admit to you, I'm struggling with my self-imposed shopping ban! I've been
really good and haven't bought any fabrics, or clothes, or knick knacks - and
there is so much I'd love to buy. I see gorgeous new fabric for sale on Facebook and Etsy, and I envisage hand embroidered bunting, fabric hairclip boards, and maybe some super cute cushions
for my house.

There's nothing like some fabric or new supplies to get my creativity flowing, which has been severely lacking lately as I've had to put Little Puddles to the bottom of the priority list for a little while. My T0-Do List is turning into a To-Do Novel at the moment! The month of May will be a busy one at Little Puddles HQ with my first Mother's Day, Emily's first birthday, and my 30th...lots of celebrations coming up, which means a lot of party planning for me!

Until then, I will stick to my shopping ban and maybe, just maybe, I will find time to create at least one or two of the new creations I have floating around in my head at the moment, with the supplies
that I have in stock.

Hope you are all having a lovely, lazy Sunday xx

Shopping Ban ~ Week 2

So far I have managed to stick to my self-imposed shopping ban, and it hasn't been easy. There's always so many fantastic sales on Facebook and in the stores. So I've been keeping myself busy making new jewellery and accessories (as pictured).

These necklaces are handcrafted using upcycled quilting remnants, Swarovski crystals and metal pendants. They will be available at www.littlepuddles.com.au very soon.

I am also having a therapeutic cleanout and will be destashing some of my surplus craft supplies to sell at my new business venture, I Love Craft. My supplies are winging their way all over the world...8 wooden babushka pendants will be posted tomorrow to a lovely customer in Milano, Italy.

I will be continuing to promote products on my Facebook page that I would love to buy but will restrain myself from. If you have any suggestions, feel free to post below!