OK, the rush is over

I have to confess that the Christmas rush has left me drained. I was in the studio painting every day for about 5 weeks and at the machine sewing almost every night. The figures have come in at 103 bags sold for the months of November and December. And let me tell you, it certainly feels like it! It was lovely thinking on Christmas morning that there were so many people out there opening their presents and finding an Anna Bag. Of course, I've been so busy that no-one received one directly from me... maybe next year. Right now I'm having a necessary break from the bags (altho I have 2 paintings to finish in the studio by Friday morning) and I'm heading to the coast for at least 2 weeks before coming back to the school rush at the end of the month. Then in February I'll hopefully be motivated to work again! I am also spending my little holiday trying to think of better ways to manage this little business of mine in 2007 - seeing as with a bit of luck I'll be bouncing a baby on my knee come late June. So, I'm off and will blog again next month. Farewell for now! (Oh, and the picture is of our lovely new outdoor area being well used for a New Years Eve gathering - thank you to my talented husband for building it and also for subsequently fixing the camera so we won't keep taking blurry images like this!)

Still too busy!

This has been an amazing lead up to Christmas. Have been sewing and painting like mad. All must be finished by tomorrow! Must go!

Too busy

Too busy to write, too busy to download photos! So much to do before Christmas - but only one more open day in the studio (thank goodness!). Must do things differently next year.

Busy making hay

Well the sun's been shining and I'm busy making hay. Sold heaps of bags at the markets last week and have at least 5 more open days in the studio before Christmas! Heaps to do!

Loves to work with children and animals

I've decided that my next ad will have a headline that tells people that I love to work with children and animals - and therefore promote my commission work for the two most popular requests that I have. I have booked 4 ads in revive magazine (I can't believe how much I'm spending!) and 3 are pre-Christmas so will promote bags, but the other is in Jan/Feb so I think commissions are more appropriate. Here are two cat paintings painted as a birthday gift to a husband - belated because my client happened to have a baby before she could get me photos of the cats with their eyes actually open. So I got to meet the sweet 5 week old and reminisce about how difficult it is to do anything when you bring home your first baby ... but how somehow you manage better when you've got two. Lovely memories.

Cover Shots - not!

I had a couple of ideas for new shots for ads and the site today - modelling isn't all it's cracked up to be! I didn't end up using either of these shots, although I am happy that they show a lot of bags. (And I really like that red top!)

Melbourne Cup Luncheon

Well, I managed to back the horse that came third - and a heap of others that didn't come first or second - but it was a lovely and successful Melbourne Cup Luncheon at Fire + Ice yesterday. My business, Bravo Events, organised it, and I was particularly proud of our tulip table decorations and hot pink table runners. They added a real sense of occasion to the day!