New Directions

 Ange, Sarah, Brooke and Kit at Follow Store

Oh my. I've been a busy little bee (don't I always say that? Well, this time I really mean it. Oh wait, I think I say that too...urgh). Perhaps the most important development as been my decision to move into embroidered illustration work full time and set the digital collage aside. So it's all business plans, financial plans, marketing plans and to-do lists galore right now (I think a blog redesign is in order as well). I'm making my way through it little by little - I should have an updated website by the end of the month. Ideally I'll be stitching book covers, little title pages for magazines, album covers and other funny things like - wine labels(!?) very soon.

Perhaps the other big thing is that I'm getting out more. I'm a textbook shy-introvert so this is big news, for me. A few weeks ago I caught up with these lovely ladies over brunch and coffees (hopefully we'll do that again soon and bring along some extra Sydney bloggers!):

• Laura Tjitradajaja (See Hear Say) - check out her Do Something Different Everyday Challenge
• Jo (Jodeska) - who's also behind the incredibly cool Sparkapolooza creative project (currently featuring a certain someone's Wheel of Fortune tarot card)
• Mel Watkins - Something From My Day
• & Maria - Schorlemadchen

Last night I was lucky enough to get a spot at the Sydney Etsy Team x. Follow Store meet and greet discussing How to Approach Retailers. Spots sold out very quickly so I was very humbled to have got in there so quick. For those who missed out, fear not, Brooke and Sarah will be posting a guide on their blog very soon (including feedback and tips from other retailers they spoke to).

If you're an Etsy crafter in Sydney I'd highly recommend joining the team - there are loads of events lined up (and some pretty big, exciting news to be revealed by EtsyAU soon too!). It was great to see these girls again and see some new faces (although I was pretty pathetic at the meet and greet aspect there, sorry):

• Sydney Etsy Team - Captained by the incredibly multi-talented Kitiya Palaskas (who is also behind Bike Babes here in Syd too - another event/meet up I keep meaning to join)
• Brooke and Sarah - Finders Keepers & Follow Store
• Angela D'Alton - the new Australia Community Manager-y-person at Etsy (along with Kirsteene)
• Renne Anne - illustrator, stylist, and now social media master over at Koskela.

And on that note, I should get back to planning/working/procrastinating...