So what have I been up to...

Well I decided to take a week off social media and pretty much my computer in general.  I had been unwell with vertigo and then the flu and then a chest infection and then tonsilitis.... it just did not seem to end.  Weeks and weeks of being unwell.  So I had many hours to whittle away on Twitter and Facebook and checking my emails that by the time I felt better I was on internet overload and needed a break doing 'real' things.

We had my youngest daughters school ball.  She is the last of my 5 babies at school and it was her first ball.  She is an eccentric sort and did not want a fuss or all the bells and whistles.  So at the last minute we had a rustle through my fabric cupboards and she chose some fabric, I stumbled out of bed dosed up on every medication I could lay my hands on and worked on it for her - randomly guessing lengths and sizing and even whipped up a matching bag.  She did her own make up and hair and because she was so kind to help a friend with hers first, she was left with only literally a few minutes to do her own.

Frankie off to her first school ball - she looked gorgeous!

  

New tulle colours coming...

Although I have been keeping away from the computer I have had to do a few things in regards to emails and orders etc and I also ordered from the US some gorgeous new colours in tulle.  Beautiful muted colours such as coral, butter, melon and dusky rose.  I can not wait to start working with them but they will take a few weeks to arrive.

My beautiful colour pencils - that I LOVE!

 I also purchased some colour pencils while unwell.  I was so excited to open them when they arrived.  I would love to someday own a big wooden box of pencils with over 100 shades but they are actually so expensive.  So in the meanwhile I am very happy with my lot of 48 - and there is even a silver and a gold - thrilled!!!  I spend each evening with 10-20 minutes before turning off the light drawing up new design ideas.  Ohhh the child within me will live on forever....  If I had known that they would bring me so much pleasure I would have purchased them a long time ago.

My beautiful cat Baby as a kitten and as an adult

For those of you who have been following my story since over a year ago, you might remember my beautiful girl Molly (cat) who got run over.  She had given birth to 7 wee kittens only 9 weeks prior to her departure from my physical world.  She did not cope well with the labor and I had to literally pull the kittens from her, cut the cords and clean them up.  One was born a runt, much like a skeleton with a few strands of fur, a placenta the size of a ten cent coin and looked sure to not live long.  Well I was wrong and after hand rearing her I had to call her Baby.  That is her in the pictures above as a kitten and one more recent.

However, six months into her life she started to have seizures where she would lose consciousness for over a minute and would have to be contained so as not to hurt herself.  This has lead me to be very protective of her and I do tend to revolve a lot of my plans around her as the seizures are now at the most two weeks apart.  She has congenital brain damage but is the most loving and happy cat I have ever owned.  We decided last week that she has to go on daily medication and so I have also been busy with sorting out my fur child.  I love her so much and feel so protective of her it has made me appreciate even more so, how fortunate I have been to have 5 healthy and strong children with out any severe long term complications or illnesses.  Not a day goes by now where I do not spare a thought for those parents who have a child with any type of special need.  If I can feel this much devotion and love for my cat I can only imagine how it would feel to be a parent of an actual human child in her position.

For this reason I have also decided to contact my local Riding School for Disabled Children to volunteer.  I have wanted to get over my fear of horses and learn how to ride properly and while asking at the Vet when there with Baby, about local riding schools the receptionist mentioned her horse is at the RDA and I could ride him anytime.  Ride???  I can barely touch them without freezing up.  I did try lessons a couple of years ago but was so relieved once I was back in my car I knew it was not for me.  However, I am not one to always be defeated so I want to try again.  So what a win-win situation, I am going to volunteer at the RDA to give some of my time and love to a community of people within my community and in the process hopefully get over my fear of being stomped by a horse.  Watch this space....

And finally, I have started to photograph some of the pieces I have made up but not ever shown to the world.  Here is a little montage of a cotton jumpsuit that I made at the end of Summer - the Millie Jumpsuit.  It is pictured with Joyfolie shoes Leopard Rose.  More items to come...

Millie Jumpsuit and Joyfolie Leopard Rose shoes

I do have plenty more exciting news to tell but things will slowly reveal themselves over time - I find that is the best way.  But I will be sure to keep you posted as things unroll.

Have a great week and take a look at all of the new pictures on the website if you have not already seen them.  I can not wait for the next photo shoot with Rebekkah Farrell and all of the new tutu and dress designs that will be coming for Spring and Summer.

 

Well we had a photo shoot on Saturday with Rebekkah Farrell and it was FAB-U-LOUS!!!!

I can not rave enough about it all.  Every person involved was amazing and I must say that the clothing looked stunning.  I have been busy for a few months working on the new collection all while trying to also work on orders.  I did not realise how much I had actually put together.  So many things that not all have yet been photographed.

There were a couple of hitches where customs decided to hold on to the Joyfolie shoes ordered.  They were sitting at the airport and still are, waiting for clearance but they would not do it over the phone.  Very frustrating but I managed to find a way around it and found other options.  I now also have a large parcel of shoes to still look forward to for the next shoot.  I also left the beautiful flowers created by Amy at Amy's Flowers, in the fridge and had to make a mad dash back to get them in amongst Saturday morning Auckland traffic.

Here are a few of the behind the scenes shots taken by my daughter Frankie.  They don't show any of the collection as I will wait for the amazing photos by Rebekkah to really get you excited.  Keep an eye out on Facebook and here on the blog.

I truly can not thank everybody enough.

The wonderful Rebekkah - isn't she gorgeous, she should have been in front of the camera

Pretty little sisters - Imogen and Pascale with Rebekkah taking the photo

London striking a pose for Rebekkah

A fairy with her butterfly wand - GORGEOUS!!

Look at those gorgeous eyes. This is a new little tutu dress but you can't see the detail

Beautiful Pascale getting ready in a rustic brown tutu

Little fairy whispers in the ear of Imogen

An angel has hung up her wings... it's a wrap... until next time

Birthday Princess

Okay so today is my Birthday *yawn* - agghhh I don't mind the numbers, my mind says "life is a happy thing", my heart says "oh together you and I have so much love to give", but my body says "no way baby, we have got this all under control and we are taking you down...".  Ahhhh well what can one do...????

Oh I know, make the most of it and be the Princess of the day in my world!  Perhaps wear a crown?? No but I have one to share with you as well as a little something from the new collection that is about to be launched, that you might like to try and win for your little Princess.

It is a rather cool shaggy pile, black faux fur vest with a grosgrain ribbon tie.  It is lined with satin and would go with so many things over Winter (I love black).  We will also be launching some very cool black merino leggings that have a slight twist to them and will look perfect with a pair of Joyfolie boots.  Included will be her own little lace crown that is the perfect prop for photos.  It reminds me of when my babies would 'graduate' from kindy on their 5th birthday and the teacher would make them a crown to wear when they sat on the special chair at mat time.

So if you would like to go in to the draw to win this faux fur jacket and a crown then all you have to do is say what your favourite colour tutu is.  Let your friends and family know also and they might win it on your behalf.

The winner will be drawn on the 30th of April and I will use Random.org to select the winner.  The winner will be announced on the Return To Eden blog that evening or May 1st.

This is not a Facebok competition but I will be letting you all know about the competition on Facebook.

All the best everybody and be on the look out for some fab new photos by Rebekkah Farrell that will soon be appearing with all of the latest range.  Can't wait!!!!

Ohhhhh and before you go... I just want to show you a little sneak peek at another new item that will be coming in the new collection - a snow princess ballerina dress....

New things coming

I know it has been a long time since I have written a blog post.  The year is just rushing by.  It is almost a year since I launched my website, since my last birthday, since my darling cat Molly passed away as well as a number of other things that happened last April (did I mention the wedding of Kate and William?? - that in fact was the date I launched my website).  These are all things I have written about in past blog posts and yet they seem merely a few months ago.

I look back and see how much things have rapidly progressed.  How much of my life is now dedicated to Return To Eden and I would not have it any other way.  I have a loving and supportive family and friends who encourage me and back me all the way.  I have given many years of my life to my family and so now it is just so right to be able to express some of my other talents and passions and let my light shine a little more brightly.

Return To Eden has grown with what it has to offer also.  A photoshoot is about to take place that will show case some of the beautiful items that have recently been created.  I can not wait to show them to you however the creations do not ever cease to flood my mind wanting and waiting to be born.  So this is really just the beginning of what is to come.

Here is a little snippet of one item that I truly adore.  This is a hand knitted (with a lot of hours and love) baby blanket.  Knitted in New Zealand Merino and Angora wool that is a luscious thick 10ply yarn.  All blankets are exclusive, unique and one of a kinds.  You will be sure to own an heirloom to be treasured for many years to come.  I hope you will love them as much as I do.

Merino and Angora Baby Blanket

100% pure Cashmere Wool Baby Blanket

Is that the time already...?????

Wow how quick is this year going???

I have been sooo busy with organising things for this coming year.  Many hours are spent sourcing fabrics, trims, embellishments and new inspiration.  As well as designing, pattern drafting, sewing, embellishing and oh also some knitting.  Not to mention filling orders, emailing, phone calls and lets not forget filing and book work.  And that is just the business side of things - not to mention my family and my new goal of eating healthier and being more active.

   

So far it is all going well and I am sure there will be so many new creations that there will be something to please everybody.  (Including the new colour above for tutus "Vintage Tea" - one of my new favs).

Invitation created by Rebekkah Farrell

There will be a look book photo shoot with the wonderful and talented Rebekkah Farrell.  Her work is amazing and she used to be a fairy (in the party sense but she is so beautiful, quite possibly in the natural sense also).  So because Rebekkah is going to produce some amazing work, I have not bothered to bore you all with my oh so amateur shots.  The great reveal will be amazing though I am sure.

The other big news is that I have been working on a few items for boys and these will have their own label.  The clothing labels are in the process of being made as I type.  The name is NIRVANA and there are two reasons for this.

• Firstly I LOVE the word.  When at Uni I would always find some way of throwing it into an essay - much easier when it were papers to do with Social Policy or NZ History than to do with Physics or Chemistry.
• Secondly the actual meaning of Nirvana is very similar to Eden -

EDEN (meaning)
1. any delightful region or abode; paradise
2. a state of perfect happiness or bliss
(dictionary.reference.com)

NIRVANA (meaning)
any place of complete bliss and delight and peace.
(thefredictionary.com)

It is my personal goal in life to try everyday have some recognition of my state of being and to try and be aware of keeping things simple, blissful, delightful and that there is a sense of peace no matter what chaos might also co-exist.  I try to live with the nature of that of a child, where there is always fun, laughter, wonder, excitement, innocence and I believe that dreams come true without limits or boundaries of what those dreams might be.  It is definitely not always easy as life throws curve balls that one must dodge but as long as I keep living I will keep trying.  Phew - I hope that explains a little more the reason for the name Return To Eden and also now Nirvana for the boys range.

So there is a lot happening although things do seem rather quiet both on the Return To Eden website and Facebook page.  Just remember things are not always as they seem and the butterfly is about to emerge.  Have a great week.