Adventures of Alex O & Co

Adventures of Alex O & Co
You only live once......................live beautifully!

Wednesday, January 29, 2014

Right Now : Challenges

So our bathroom is all demolished.
The trades are all booked.
The builder came yesterday and dropped off all the wood to start today.
Then at 7am this morning we got the call to say that our poor
builder who is 72 has put his back out!

I am a true believer that everything happens for a reason.
So now Mr O is on the search for a builder at short notice.
It certainly is a challenge!

Yesterday I started juicing.
I certainly ate my way through Christmas.
So now its time to make a change.
Juicing I have found is best started slowly as it can knock you around as you detox.
So I plan to start with juicing one meal a day and work up to two.
Then three meals.
I am hoping to go on a 4 day fasting and juicing retreat the middle of February 
(depending on how the bathroom renovation goes)  
so I am slowly working my way towards a healthier slimmer me.

Here is yesterdays juice : 

BEETROOT ZESTER
2 medium carrots
2 apples
1 medium beetroot
1/2 fresh lime
1 piece of ginger 2cm by 1cm
Feed all ingredients through the juicer, stir and drink..................it is yummy and very filling.




Right now here is my work table:




I am finishing off a few shop orders before I start some new designs.
Master O still has a week of school holidays so I am not fully back into the swing of things yet.
I did however just design these new Kindle or Mini Ipad cases.




I have just received this great book it is all about making paper flowers 
but I think it is going to inspire
me greatly with some new felt flower designs.
I am looking forward to painting some felt and trying out some new designs.



Aren't these paper flowers just gorgeous.




I cannot wait to start these new designs.
My fingers are itching!

Tuesday, January 14, 2014

Change





 Change comes from thinking thoughts you've never thought before.
Showing up to meet them down streets you've never walked before.

2014 is here and I feel for my family it is going to be a year of change.
The changes that will be coming about are across the board in our lives
and I although I am excited about change I am also a little scared.
I think we often look at change as a bad thing, 
when more often than not change is a good thing.

I read the other day :

Making a big life change is pretty scary.
But you know whats even scarier ?
Regret


 For the past few years I have a motto or a saying that I think will help me 
stay positive through the year.

Last year it was:

"Don't look back your not going that way"

I loved this motto as it was so true for last year and building
up my craft business and not returning to a career I had, had most of my life.

The year before it was:

"You only live once, live beautifully"

As I looked for a new motto this year among hundreds of change sayings.
This lovely simple one struck my heart as the right one for me.

Make a wish
Take a chance
Make a change

It sounds simple but for Mr O and I change is big as we are not real risk takers so
 taking a chance on something new can be scary.
 

We came home from holiday a few days ago and the first change occurred.
A very exciting change.
Mr O started to demolish our bathroom.
We only have one bathroom so this change I am sure will have its ups and downs.
But the builders, the plumbers the tilers are all booked.
So hopefully weeks from now my bathroom has moved on from what it looks like right now
and changed into an amazing new space.



 Do you have a motto or a saying that suits your life right now ?
I would love it if you would share it with me.







Friday, December 20, 2013

Last Market for 2013

 
 
 
Tomorrow I have my last market for 2013.
I go into this market with a happy sad feeling.
Happy because after this market I am on holiday.
Sad because I am not sure when my next market will be.
I think I am going to take a break from markets for a while.
Whether for 3 months, 6 months or longer only time will tell.

This year because we are going away from home for Christmas we
have not fully decorated our house or even got a real tree.
I thought I would share with you snippets of what we do have.
 

 
Master O's Advent Bag Basket.
 


The empty Advent bags around the base of the tree.
 


Master O's stocking.
 


This year I made Master O a ceramic star to go in one of his Advent bags.
I have always called him my "Angel Baby" even though now he is eleven!
 


I just had to give him this decoration from 



This lovely ceramic bunting was a present I received last year from the


I would like to thank you all for taking the time to read my blog, 
for letting me share with you my crafty lifestyle.

To all those people that have bought one of my creations 
Thank you so much.
It is so heart warming to know that my creations are out there somewhere 
in the world bringing Joy to others.

I wish all of you and your families a very Merry Christmas.

Thursday, December 5, 2013

Little Birds




A few weeks ago I got together with some of my crafty friends
for a Christmas Lunch and Ceramic making (as you do).
The lovely Renee from The Little White Box
hosted this fine day.

I have always had a thing for little birds, 
you see them pop up on my creations every so often. 
So I just had to paint one on a Christmas star.




My little bird inspired Lizzie from
to paint us all a beautiful Robin each.




These little birds made me want to sew some more birds.
So here are my first "Lovebird" Ipad Cases.








Who scares away the birds ?
Why Mr Scottie Dog of course!




I tried something new with some of these cases.
They are one colour on the front and then a beautiful grey on the back.



Monday, November 18, 2013

In my Garden

 
 
Some of you may remember that last summer
my boys built us a couple of beautiful raised garden beds.
 
This morning I went up the garden and found a group of
Pixies with their mother enjoying the beautiful sunny weather.




 
 







 
 











Thursday, November 14, 2013

Little Bits

Yesterday I found a beautiful dusky pink blanket in one of my favourite Op Shops.
 I often end up with little bits of felt left over and I absolutely hate waste.
So today I made a couple of purses using some of those left over bits of felt that I hate to waste.
 What do you think ?


I have a big three days ahead of me and these two new purses will be coming with me.
Hopefully they find a new home at one of these markets.

Piako Fete
15 November
Dalton Plantation
280 Hinuera Road
Matamata
Crafternoon Tea
10am - 2pm
Saturday 16 November
Trinity Methodist Church Hall
400 New North Road
Kingsland

Devonport Craft Market10am - 2pm
Sunday 17 November
Devonport Community House
32 Clarence Street
Devonport

Friday, November 8, 2013

Michael Park School Fair

Tomorrow it is the Michael Park School Fair.
I just love doing this fair.

About
Where magic happens...55 Amy St Ellerslie on Saturday 9th November 2013 9.30 - 3.30pm....simply not your average fair
.
Description
Walk through time to the fair in the field, let your senses dance to the sounds, tastes and sites of children's laughter, organic food, live music, fun activities and a multitude of bespoke craft.


Here is a little peak at some of the creations I will have with me.



Cushions and Ipad Cases


Hessian Flower Bags


Mushroom and Mistletoe Pixies


These beautiful Gnomes are made by my friend Tuncay and I will have them on my stall
this Christmas season.