Time for a catch up?

My brother got married! ( I took all the photos! argh!)

Dirt Girl turned 8!    8!!!

We took some girls camping to celebrate.....

We took an overnighter to the beach for Robs Birthday..

It rained

But it was fun and funny

Planted some a lot of beetroot, someone else is enjoying them too?

Lettuce seeds planted

Tomatos too (with a nice little cover for the nights to save them from frost)

Bird watching. One of Zaras gifts was a HUGE book called 'What bird is that?' we identified this lovely one as a red browed finch, extremely common :)

Important holiday business

The luxury of time on school holidays

I like to call this one 'The Reluctant Walker' thats the boy, not the dog :)


What a whirl wind few weeks! But the future is all relaxing and sewing, well for the most part!
We will be at The Castlemaine Artists Market on the 7th of October for our first market for the spring. How is your spring going along? Do you have a great spurt of birthdays at this time too??

I am linking in with Squiggly Rainbows garden journal this week.


Jacq :)

another weekend comes and goes

I love a good adventure.

Taking three children to a busy big city market is a BIG adventure for this country Mama!

For the first hour or so I felt as though my head was on a swivel....trying to keep track of who was where as they became distracted by something new and interesting. Thankfully after a little while the crowd died down, the kids got tired and I relaxed a little making for a much more relaxed day.

It really was a lovely day, some shopping, plenty of browsing, lots of walking and of course hot jam doughnuts. 

Rob and I look forward to hitting the deli section....cheese and meats high on our agenda (King Island Brie, a huge chunk of parmesan, super hot salami and a load of scotch fillet steaks amoungst our booty) with just a look at some things for sale like the baby octopus that the kids thought was really gross! But we did lash out and get some new things we hadn't tried before..stuffed peppers, salmon rolls, stuffed mushrooms...and so I have discovered that I don't really like salmon that much!

And of course a trip through the organic fruit and veg section for some supplies for the week.

and those doughnuts!! Very sweet and yummy. I did briefly think that I could make them at home before realising that would probably be a very bad idea! Doughnuts anyone?? nom nom nom......!!

I hope there was a little adventure in your weekend too, feel free to tell us all about it!

Avalon has a new hobby. Photobombing!

Jacq :)

:: Happiness ::

What is happiness? 

Where does it come from?

Are we ever completely happy? 

Is it possible?

As I get older I think I am starting to see what happy is. It would never have been possible to see when I was young. I am getting close to 40 now (......oh crap) surely some of that wiseness that comes with age should come soon, yeh?

I think there are different levels of happiness, different sorts go into different categories. 

The instant happiness...for example.... ohhhh chocolate YUMMY!! or OMGosh check out those shoes and I can afford them! Oh what a beautiful flower in my garden!

The medium happiness - the kind that comes from when your days go smoothly, no cars breakdown or washing machines flood the laundry. Your plans are slowing working their way to fruition.

And the the large happiness that comes from having great relationships with your husband, children, family and friends. A home that safe and warm. 

But, just because you have one type of happiness in your life doesn't mean you really feel it?

I am starting to see you need a blend of all 3 varieties. 

I think this is how people become envious of others and their happinesses (I might have made that word up!)...She has a great house and a drop dead sexy husband so she has the life, but not necessarily so. Her days may be agonisingly boring and she is miserable. 

But to make it even more complicated I think we have to make the choice to be happy. That's not as easy as it sounds.

I have been contemplating the last few years of my life. They have been rough. Could I have made them easier if I had chosen happiness over sadness?

Instead of mourning the loss of a dear man I only got to love for a short time, could I have rejoiced that I had the chance to be his daughter even if it wasn't for long?

When my new husband had a stroke, could I have felt happiness that he survived rather than the sorrow I did feel?

There are so many pieces of the happiness life puzzle, an edge piece here that fits well, a turn of this piece, moving another piece...is the picture of the puzzle right for you?

So I think that life is all about choosing how we see things, how we react. Tweaking the pieces that don't quite fit, finding little bits of all the types of happiness that can be found in our lives, being patience and calm while your figuring out your picture.....

I had a very happiness day today with all the variety of happinesses...

A visit to the Echuca winter blues festival

A visit to the Holden Museum to look at some beautiful cars

This one was my favourite, I used to drive a red HJ panelvan....pre kids of course!

The new and the old

yummies at Beechworth Bakery in Echuca

All with one of my biggest happinesses! 

We did also visit the market of my friend Cath   Little Birdy Markets but of course I was so busy looking at all the handmade goodness I forgot to take pictures.....!!

So I declare today a happiness success!

What are your thoughts? What makes you happy?

Jacq :)

(BTW I have purposely left out any reference to children and their affect on our happiness, thats just way to complicated!!)

 

Where oh where has Jacq been?

ahhhh........ busy!

The poor blog gets shoved to the back burner when things get crazy, and I guess thats how it should be. My children and husband and JaxFancy really are the priority when it comes down to it. 

Things are travelling along rather well here, even though things are flat out and no one can find any socks, it IS in 'the plan' to build our JaxFancy business and thats what we are achieving! 

The reality is somewhat chaotic though! Since I/we are still working the day jobs! 

Noahs Ark $210

Even amongst the chaos, its so exciting to live a creative life. So fulfilling. So inspiring. 

 So addictive. 

Just one thought about making one little thing, leads to another.......then another. 

For instance a couple of years ao I knitted my young daughters some cats to play with.......now I make a lot of toys for everyone to play with.......and I am wondering if I can build myself a studio....

See? from knitted cats to building a dwelling, and everything inbetween. 

Don't be afraid to create, it doesnt matter if it doesn't end up how you imagine. You can always keep making untill your happy with it, or move on and try something else. 

You Tube is a great place to learn how to do things, its the first place I go when a knitting pattern says something that looks like an alien wrote it....off I trot and I watch someone actually do the stitch I need, its fantastic! A lot like Grandmother on tap. 

So, what do you WANT to create?

xoxoxo Jacq :)

Look whats new @ JaxFancy!

Rob has been working very busily up in the shed and has created what I think are some absolutely fantastic cars! I love the hotrod shapes and I am sure they will be a hit for Christmas presents, you just don't see cars with that much style these days! One would make a lovely gift for a special little person :D

I will be adding them to our Etsy Shop this evening.

Keep your eyes peeled because I know there's a variety of trucks coming too :)

 

 

AND while wandering about our local market this morning I was VERY excited to see Hawthorn Cottage with all their wonderful yarns, I would happily have had one of everything but limited myself to 2 skeins! The one above (hand spun hand dyed merino) will be some hair for a doll that's in the making, what a funky looking girl she will be and a rainbow skein (below) just for me :) If your a knitter or a crocheter I do recommend you have a look, their yarns are superb! Check out their tea cosies too, I could just about drink tea to have one of those on my kitchen bench!

Jacq :)

Updates!

Well we had such a busy weekend just past with going to the Rochester Kids Market and Little Birdy Market in Echuca, it was great to go and see a few different markets to see what happens there. I have to say a big thank you to Cath from Little Birdy for making us feel welcome and at home. Unfortunately, while we were away I came down with a cold type bug (argh!) so have been trying to rest up which I must say, is pretty darn good. I have been enjoying my new book from Soulemama and her dear husband Stephen. So far I am really enjoying it, its a lovely mix of crafting, cooking and parenting all done slowly. I bought mine directly from her (just so I could have it signed, cheap thrills!) but its available in many places if you're interested just Google it. Her blog is one I really love to read, you can find it on the left in BloggieLove  >>

I have also had time for a JaxFancy Etsy Shop update...

 

and a trip to the op shop..........found some lovely vintage cottons destined to be make into Christmas presents :) 

Its starting to get to the time where we start thinking about Christmas.

I have always loved making gifts for the people I love, even more so at Christmas time. The making is the easy part, the thinking of what to make is the hardest part! I do have a few ideas, but I would always love some more. If you have any please leave me a comment, it will be much appreciated :)

If its school holidays for you like it is for us I wish you a grand time! Slow down and enjoy this sunshine :) For everyone else I hope your holidays are not to far away :)

Happy Days :)

Jacq xo

Preparations are underway :)

We have been like busy little spring bees today trying to get some stock ready for our big weekend! Two markets in the same weekend?? What was I thinking! Sometimes my tendency to be over efficient defiantly goes against me. But the show must go on, so we will continue our preparations as best we can which means I will be sewing at midnight!. I am looking forward to our weekend though, its also a bit of an adventure!

 We made many many Stacking Men today!

 And now for the sewing :)

Our first market for the weekend will be on Saturday at  Kids Markets Central Vic in Rochester, they will be raffling a hamper to aid the local victims of last years flooding. We'll stay the night in Echuca  (woo hoo!) and have our stall at Little Birdy Markets in the heart of Echuca on the Sunday for the very first time.

As always our life is jam packed.. we also have 2 very special birthdays to celebrate this week, Zara will be 7 (OH MY! didn't those years go fast!?) and Rob will be turning 21 again ;)

Leave me a comment and share whats happening in your week :)

Jacq :) 

A question for other market retailers :)

I have this tendancy to be a little gung-ho... you know how it is, a great idea happens in your mind and you just run with it! 

I'm not sure about anyone else but I (we) have a day job(s) in a wonderful kindergarten and the hospital, so JaxFancy runs on top of these commitments, purely because its something we enjoy doing.

What I would like to know is How did you start?? Was it a hobby that grew? A business idea your trying to grow? Do you have a plan or are you winging it?

Its looking like I will have less days working outside of the home next year so now have to opportunity to really give more time to expanding JaxFancy. But how is what I am wondering!

I would love to hear from anyone with their story and any ideas they have would be greatly appreciated.

Just leave me a comment!

A great market day!

We had such a fun day at the Kids Market in Castlemaine today. Met some lovely people, and by my thinking if you get to the end of a day with a new friend it is one fantastic day!! One particular young lady who stands out in my mind is the creator of Made In The Shade Accessories. If you like bits and pieces for you hair and ears that aren't the same as the next Gals,  check her out! I could so be a rockabilly chick.....he he he!!

Another great stall was The Bear and the Whale, they had lovely handmade clothes for children and very very sweet dolls clothes, if your looking for christmas presents I suggest you look here. I do look forward to catching up with them at the Little Birdy Market they were great neighbours today!

I really do feel blessed to have such great friends and family that support Rob and I on this adventure, so thank you to everyone that comes to visit us at the markets and for helping us juggle the kids...that's you Mum, Tammy and Kris :) xoxox And a special thank you to Lisa for her encouragement on a daily basis, it certainly helps me through those moments when I wonder what on earth I am doing!

Here are some pictures from today, possibly not great ones...but anyway....

Our very popular ducks 

The new stacking men were very well received today

Can you see the pigs in the middle?? Oh how we love the piggies!

Jacq xoxo