Please Eloise

Please Eloise is closing down...

2012-01-13T10:34:00.000+11:00

After a great 3 years in business, Please Eloise is closing down. Life is full of conflicting priorities... I have 'real job' consulting work that needs my attention, two lovely little girls who need more time with Mummy - the biggest one due to start school next year - and I desperately need some more family time that isn't juggled around creating accessories, updating the website, packing orders and getting ready for and going to markets. In short, something has to give. This has become all the more apparent to me now with the exciting news that I am three months pregnant with our third little family member. Baby is due to join us in July.

The websites are now closed. In March (I need some time to organise myself!) I'll be holding a clearance sale at the Etsy site. I haven't quite decided how it will work, but I'm planning on offering packs of accessories, selected at random from my remaining stock, at enormously reduced prices. If you have any thoughts about what you would like to see, please feel free to get in touch with me here, on Facebook or by email at pleaseeloise@gmail.com

I won't miss this hectic pace, but I will miss my lovely customers including my wonderful regulars, and all the priceless friendships that I've made along this journey with Please Eloise. Thank you to everyone who has provided me with support and advice along the way - you all know who you are, please know how very much you are appreciated! I've listed some of the amazing business owners and bloggers below that I've been privilleged to meet or work with along the way so that you can visit and hopefully continue supporting them on their journey.

Michelle Stening Photography

Pretty Princess

Handmade Kids

Kelani Fabric Obsession

Handmade Market Canberra

Mathilda's Market

Bella Piccolo Photography

Fly Bird Fly Designs

I may be back one day. Never say never. For the forseeable future however, I'm looking forward to a break and some creative time with my new love - the Brother NS10. I'm armed with 'Quilting for Dummies' and my first job is to start working on a quilt for the baby's room. I may continue to update this blog with my creative efforts.

So, until the March clearance sale, thank you and farewell! xx

Our Christmas break

2011-12-13T11:32:00.000+11:00

Our online stores have now closed for our Christmas break. It's exciting for me to have an end to all my hectic Please Eloise work in sight, but not until after this weekend when we've finished our two days at Handmade Market. That will give me one week to finish off all our Christmas shopping and get the Cubby House sorted. Thanks to all the Sydney rain we've had it's not yet painted and I still have to sew the curtains. I haven't decided yet when we'll reopen the online stores, but you can keep in touch here or at our Facebook page. Wishing you all a wonderful Christmas and New Year!

Etsy front page

2011-12-07T17:54:00.000+11:00

Out stained glass ponytail holders were featured on the front page of Etsy yesterday. They're one of my personal favourites, so it was nice to see them have their moment in the limelight!

Take that Santa

2011-12-04T20:14:00.000+11:00

This is not the first year that I've felt like I'm in competition with Santa. Eloise is obsessed with Santa. Every trip to a shopping centre in December requires a chat with Santa. Santa is the subject of conversation almost constantly. Santa also gets to take the credit for the most coverted Christmas presents, and to be perfectly honest, I'm a little jealous. So when I arrived home from Mathilda's Market this afternoon to find this cubby house had been built down the side of my house, I smugly thought to myself that I had one up on Santa. This is our special Christmas present for Eloise and Ava. It's pretty fantastic, and when it's painted and I've decorated the inside with some curtains, bunting and pretty pictures, I'm confident that it will make a lovely little cubby for the girls. So here's our 'before' photo. I'll update you with the 'after' as soon as it's ready!

Christmas trading notice

2011-11-27T21:01:00.000+11:00

Please Eloise will be taking a well deserved Christmas break and will be closing our online stores as of 13 December 2011. All online orders will need to be made prior to this date. You will still be able to find us at Mathilda's Market Sydney on 4 December 2011 and Handmade Market Canberra on 17 December 2011.

4 Days to December... todays offer

2011-11-27T07:45:00.000+11:00

Have you been following our 12 days to December promotion over at Facebook? I can barely believe that there are only 4 days remaining. It's nearly time for the Christmas tree to make an appearance at our house. Todays you can receive 20% off the entire Itty Bitty Ava Collection using promotional code DAY4. You'll need to hurry though, stocks are very limited.

My latest holiday plans

2011-11-27T07:29:00.000+11:00

You may know that I'm not happy unless I'm planning a holiday. In fact, I suffer acute stress when there is no holiday in the works, so I'm relieved to have a holiday to plan at the moment. I love everything about planning holidays... searching for flights, accomodation, researching things to do, places to go, restaurants to visit - for me, it's an endless list that keeps me occupied right up until we leave. We're off to Kingscliff in northern New South Wales in March for two weeks. Just looking at this photo is enough to feel my blood pressure lower. It's felt like a long time since our last holiday - our Hawaii trip in 2010 - so I'm really looking forward to it. I'm not brave enough to plan a visit to an overseas destination while Ava is so little, so this time we're keeping it local. Having said that, my mind is already occupied with thoughts of a trip to the US in 2013/2014. It's never to early to plan!

Ava's first Christmas

2011-11-22T09:09:00.000+11:00

It's important to me that I have an ornament for each of the girls to commemorate their first Christmas. In fact, most of my Christmas ornaments (with the exception of my pretty but bog standard baubles) commemorate a special time. For the most part they have been collected from holiday destinations... Paris, New York, London - you name it, there's probably a dated decoration from my favourite cities on my tree. My requirements this year: the ornament had to say 'Baby's First Christmas', had to be dated with the year and couldn't be a bauble. This is the gorgeous handmade ornament that I settled on from Beehive Kitchenware. I love it and can't wait for it to arrive.

12 Days to December...

2011-11-19T09:40:00.000+11:00

It's only 12 day until December... here's todays offer :)

Mathilda's Market... a date for your diary

2011-11-17T09:11:00.000+11:00

Our last Sydney market for 2011 is the always awesome Mathilda's Market. Mark this date in your diary - it's going to be huge. If you want to make sure that I have what you want, you will need to pre-order by emailing me at pleaseeloise@gmail.com so that I can have it packed and ready for you to pick up on the day.

Counting down 12 days to December...

2011-11-16T10:12:00.000+11:00

Starting this weekend, Please Eloise will be counting down the days to December with a special offer each day. We love Christmas here and the first day of December marks the day all our Christmas decorations come out and the excitment offically begins. If there is a special offer you would like to see in the 12 days, feel free to let us know!

Thank you

2011-11-09T13:34:00.000+11:00

This is just a quick note to thank all of you who placed an order during our one day birthday sale on Sunday. The response was fabulous - so fabulous that my office is full with half packed parcels to finish off tonight, and many more to get started on. I promise to have all parcels sent by the end of next week. Thank you for supporting Please Eloise.

We've turned 3! Our one day sale and biggest discount ever...

2011-11-06T00:01:00.003+11:00

We've turned three! It's three years since Please Eloise officially launched. This day three years ago, I listed my first Please Eloise items on Etsy, and sold them on the same day. It's very satisfying to be posting this blog entry, three years later. To celebrate, Please Eloise is holding a one day only sale, with a huge discount of 40% off storewide when you buy three or more items when using discount code BDAY3. The discount is valid at www.pleaseeloise.com only, and is valid only on 6 November 2011 until midnight Australian Eastern Standard Time. We expect to be busy, so please allow up to 2 weeks for postage of all discounted orders. I hope you enjoy and thank you all for supporting Please Eloise.

Sydney love.

2011-10-25T08:17:00.000+11:00

I love my city, and as far as I'm concerned, on days like the sunny warm Sunday we just had, it's one of the most beautiful places on the planet. I thought I'd share some of the photos from our magnificent day out at the Kids Crazy Island Tea Party on Goat Island, which was one of the events of the Sydney International Food Festival. Think sugar - marshmallows to dip in a Lindt chocolate fountain, cupcake decorating, fairy floss and plenty of craft stations - it was two hours of fun overload which was icing on the cake of the ferry ride across the sparkling harbour. We finished our day with lunch and a walk around the beautiful Botanical Gardens, followed by a glass of wine (or two) by the Opera House. Perfection.

Auction to raise funds for Juvenile Diabetes this weekend

2011-10-21T17:31:00.000+11:00

This weekend our friends from Kaile Boutique Baby Linen will be hosting an auction on Facebook here to raise funds for Juvenile Diabetes. Along with some beautiful pieces from talented designers, Please Eloise has donated one of our Lovebird Trees to the auction. Bidding starts on Saturday morning. We would love you to lend your support.

Introducing 'The Lovebird' ponytail holder/jewellery display trees - now available to pre-order

2011-10-19T22:14:00.000+11:00

I'm so pleased to finally introduce The Lovebird Tree, designed by and exclusive to Please Eloise. It has taken some time to get the design just right, but our trees are now in production and available to pre-order here. They stand approximately 28cm high and 22cm wide, making them perfect to hang ponytail holders and jewellery, or simply make a pretty room prettier. They are available to purchase raw, or beautifully finished with white satin paint. To celebrate the launch of our Lovebird Trees I am offering a 10% discount on all pre-orders made before the end of October - to receive your discount simply enter LOVERAW (for our raw trees) or LOVEWHITE (for our white trees) at checkout.

Please Eloise is almost 3 - our present for you ♥♥♥

2011-10-18T11:38:00.000+11:00

Our third birthday is just around the corner. Once again the presents are for you, so to celebrate, we're keeping it simple this year. On the big day, Sunday 6 November, I'll be posting a promotional code on our Facebook page for our biggest discount. Ever. The discount will be valid for our birthday day only. So head over to our Facebook page here and 'like' us, mark it in your diary, and don't miss out. It will be worth it - we promise!

Our road trip to Handmade Canberra

2011-10-16T20:29:00.000+11:00

I have to admit, it's taken me a few weeks to recover from our roadtrip to Handmade Canberra. I had forgotten just how much paraphanalia comes along with a 6 month old, and exactly how many colouring implements and My Little Ponys are required to amuse a four year old over a long weekend away from home. Add my Please Eloise bits and pieces to the mix, Daddy and my sister who was kind enough to come and help me, and our road trip to Canberra involved two packed cars and some highly strung occupants!

Luckily for Daddy and the girls, our weekend coincided with the always beautiful Floriade. As you can see, both Eloise and Ava enjoyed themselves, despite the fact that Ava started to come down with a nasty cold and didn't get much sleep. Strangely enough, Mummy and Daddy didn't either.

Ava enjoyed the Ferris Wheel

Eloise loves any opportunity to strike a pose. She adored the petting zoo and taking photos of the beautiful flowers. She tells me that the tulips were her favourite.

I love her winter hat. Such a shame that Daddy managed to lose it. Along with Ava's blanky. Ahem.

Thank you for a lovely weekend Canberra. We'll be back in December for Handmade Market and lots of Christmas Shopping!

Handmade Market Canberra this weekend

2011-09-27T22:00:00.000+10:00

Road trip!! We're off to Canberra on Friday night for a huge two days at Handmade Market. It's been a crazy couple of creative weeks while I've been working hard to stock up and put the finishing touches to some of the new products that will make their debut this weekend. I love these new headbands (Ava will be sporting one when her Daddy takes her and Eloise to her cousin Abby's Christening on Sunday). At the top of the picture you can see our new sterling silver earrings, complimented with some beautiful Liberty fabrics. They're a new favourite for me and I can't wait to hear what my market visitors think of them.

I'm forever thankful for the fact that my sister Elise will be taking the road trip down with us all. She will be helping me out on Saturday and Sunday while Daddy and the girls enjoy Floriade. I'm hoping to get a little shopping in while I'm there and Eloise is looking forward to having a 'sleepover' with her Aunty. Fun times ahead... hope to see some of you there!

Our very own ponytail holder trees are coming soon!

2011-09-19T11:13:00.000+10:00

Our very own wooden ponytail holder / jewellery trees, exclusively designed by and available only at Please Eloise, are currently in production mode and will hopefully be ready for orders before Christmas! It's exciting news and something I've been working on in response to the huge number of customer requests that I keep receiving at markets. The design is super cute (but you'll need to wait a little while before you can take a peek) and will be perfect to display those pesky ponytail holders that get scattered all around the house or get shoved in a drawer. I can't wait to share the finished product. To keep updated on its arrival, 'like' us on Facebook here.

This is why Eloise loves her Daddy...

2011-09-09T22:13:00.001+10:00

...not because he gets up early and takes her swimming on Saturday mornings in the freezing cold of winter. Not because he takes her to the park every chance he gets when he's at home, when the sun is shining and he can hear kids across the road having fun. Not because he's made it his business to know the names of each of her My Little Pony friends and become acquainted with each of their 'cutie marks' so that they can have intense discussions about ponies. Not because he does messy craft activities with her, like painting and sprinkle on glitter that mean old Mummy won't do. Nope. She loves him because he gives her treats and presents!

Eloise's 4th birthday: A Pony Party

2011-09-01T18:03:00.000+10:00

I've been a very quiet blogger lately, but it's all been for a good cause - my big girl turned 4 last week. Eloise is obsessed with everything pony at the moment, so, along with 12 of her friends we celebrated with a pony party. The planning kept me very busy, but the sun made an appearance on the big day and it was a hit with the kids.

There were plenty of pony rides... this pony's name is Cloud.

The petting zoo was very popular, although I'm not sure how enthusiastic this bunny felt about it...

My first attempt at a themed birthday cake was also a surprising success. I was harboring a secret suspicion that this was going to end in tears (mine) and a trip to Michel's Patisserie (for my husband). This rainbow cake was loosely based on one from a Women's Weekly birthday cake book. So, with the party over it's back to business. We had a such a busy day at Mathilda's Market last Saturday that I'm low on stock, so I'm working double time to be ready for a big weekend at Handmade Market in Canberra. A Floriade roadtrip anyone?

Mathilda's Market this Saturday

2011-08-23T21:16:00.000+10:00

Please Eloise will be at Mathilda's Market this coming Saturday, at The Entertainment Quarter, Moore Park. Even though I'm rushing like crazy to be ready for Saturday, I'm looking forward to seeing the new venue and being part of the shared event with Boutique Markets. Hope to see some of you there!

Must. Stop. Shopping.

2011-08-02T19:20:00.000+10:00

Ralph Lauren Ruffled Mini-Cable Cardigan AUD $17.09

My sister has gone on a work trip to the US this week so, with the Australian dollar booming, I've been doing some online shopping for the girls which Elise will bring back for me. Did I say some? Make that lots. I've placed orders with OshKosh, Carters, Ralph Lauren and Gymboree. Am I bad? Lots of hitting up the credit card, but these bargains have been too good to pass up. At least, that's what I'm telling Daddy. Here are a few of my favourites and the prices converted into Australian dollars. Definitely too good to pass up wouldn't you agree?!

OshKosh dress AUD $5.66

Gymboree skirt AUD $14.61

Some spare time... and a new pinboard

2011-08-01T09:48:00.000+10:00

Don't get me wrong - I love the girls to bits - but I also love the few hours I get to myself on Eloise's preschool days when Ava is asleep. For weeks now our fridge has been drowning under the weight of My Little Pony colouring in pictures, so I've had it in my mind to make a pinboard to put up in Eloise's room. Somewhere that she can pin up her favourite paper items. So, this is what I managed to put together a few weeks ago when Ava was asleep.

I bought a large cork board ($12) and painted the frame white. I pulled out some fabric I've had waiting in the wings for some inspiration, ironed and cut it to size. I pushed it under the edges of the frame with a bread and butter knife, and stapled it as closely to the frame as possible. Using tiny dots of hot glue, I glued some grosgrain ribbon (clearly there's no shortage of ribbon in this house) to act as a border and cover the staples. I covered some buttons with contrasting fabric and made thumb tacks. Too easy, and all within nap time!

Introducing my new creative venture... Ava Grace Design

2011-07-25T15:13:00.000+10:00

There's a reason why I've been very quiet on the blogging front for a few weeks now... I've been working hard on the launch of my new creative venture - Ava Grace Design - the home for personalised, printable invitations and announcements. I've quietly launched the online store this week - you can find us at www.avagracedesign.etsy.com (US Dollars) and at www.madeit.com/avagracedesign (Australian Dollars). To celebrate opening, up until the end of July I'm offering 15% at Etsy using promotional code OPENING. Here's a taste of some of the invitations on offer. I'd love you to visit and to hear your feedback!

New necklaces now instore and ready for market

2011-06-23T18:20:00.000+10:00

Lots of new necklace styles are now listed at Please Eloise here and will be joining me at Sydney Boutique Markets on Sunday 3 July 2011. I love the Gorgeous girls below...

2011-06-19T21:07:00.000+10:00

This week I'll be busily preparing for our first appearance at Sydney Boutique Markets at Castle Hill. I grew up in the Hills District, so Castle Hill is my old stomping ground - I'm excited to be bringing Please Eloise to the Hills. Market day is Sunday 3 July 2011, but before you visit make sure you that enter Sydney Boutique Market's competition to win $300 to spend on the day. I could do alot of damage with that... hope to see some of you there!

Finally... my first quilt

2011-06-16T14:06:00.000+10:00

I bought a lovely pack of Moda charm squares at Mathilda's Market back in December last year, with the plan being to make my first ever baby quilt. I was given some great tips from Retro Mummy who was also kind enough to send me a tutorial. It's only taken me 6 months to get around to finishing it, and Ava is almost 3 months old (already!) but here is the final product. It's far from perfect, but I don't think it's too bad for my first effort with my clunky old sewing machine. I love the colours and it's been handy to throw in a bag when I'm going out somewhere and Ava needs a spot on the ground to kick around. If only there were more hours in the day...

A first birthday gift

2011-06-06T12:11:00.000+10:00

Here's a little Please Eloise gift pack, along with a white FluffyButt tutu, that is on its way to Miss Katia who is turning one. Too cute... happy first birthday Katia!

Sydneysiders... will you visit the Ice Bear?

2011-06-01T20:52:00.000+10:00

Sydney friends, if you're looking for something fun to do this weekend, why not visit the Sydney Ice Bear? A beautiful polar bear will be carved from a nine-tonne block of ice in Custom House Square, Circular Quay this Friday. Just in time for World Environment Day on Sunday 5 June 2011, the Ice Bear Project is making its way around the world to bring attention to climate change. You can find out more about the Sydney Ice Bear here.

The Itty Bitty Ava Collection has arrived....

2011-05-31T10:16:00.000+10:00

...and has been designed for those with just a little bit of hair! I've been working on this collection for a little while now, and was excited to show them at Mathilda's Market on Sunday. I've been selling a limited selection of mini clips at markets for the past year and they've been incredibly popular, so I've expanded the line and they are now all available to buy online here. Itty Bitty clips measure approximately 3cm, and only need a little bit of fine hair to clip onto. Please remember, small children should always be supervised when wearing hair accessories.

This Sunday... meet us at Mathilda's

2011-05-25T18:46:00.000+10:00

This Sunday we'll be at Mathilda's Market, Lane Cove. By we, I mean my helper husband, Ava and I. It will most definitely be the place to be, with the first 500 shoppers lucky enough to grab themselves a Mathilda's Market tote bag full of goodies. I may have to masquerade as a shopper!

I've been working like crazy to stock up this week and have lots of new items on show, including the Itty Bitty Ava Collection, for those with only a little bit of hair - I think the politically correct term is 'follicley challenged'! I hope to have the collection photographed and on the website by the end of the week...

...and here is Miss Ava, showing us that you really are never too young to accessorise!

Massive fabric and hardware destash - visit our Craftumi store!

2011-05-21T17:46:00.000+10:00

My husband is going to kill me if my craft stash gets any bigger (I hear that this is a common story amongst crafters), so I've spent today doing a massive clear out of my craft space. You can visit the Please Eloise Craftumi store here to find gorgeous fabrics, ribbons and hair accessory hardware that I'm clearing out at bargain prices. Here's a taste of what's in store.

Do cats celebrate Easter?

2011-04-25T19:28:00.000+10:00

Eloise's Easter Egg stash. Enough chocolate to last her until she's sixteen.

As it turns out, ours does. On Sunday morning Eloise awoke to find that the Easter Bunny had left her an Easter Egg hunt and after waking us up to join her, a hunting we went. As we started to gather eggs we discovered our cat, Josie, curled up asleep next to a flattened piece of foil with the insides sucked out. She had managed to scoff a palm sized Easter Egg during the night, and as pleased as punch, promptly fell asleep. I hope your Easter was just as enjoyable!

Hop in during easter and receive 25% off

2011-04-21T15:36:00.000+10:00

It's a 5 day long weekend here in Australia... woo hoo! To celebrate, hop in and visit us at www.pleaseeloise.com or at Etsy and receive 25% off using the promotional code BUNNY. Offer is valid up until the end of Anzac Day, Tuesday 26 April 2011 and does not apply to postage.

Easter craft tutorial: Ribbon Eggs

2011-04-14T20:27:00.000+10:00

Eloise loves craft, so at the moment Easter is providing us with plenty of inspiration. These Ribbon Eggs are easy to make, plenty of fun and were a great way to use my left over pieces of ribbon. To start, cut an egg shape out of cardboard. I traced around one of my Nigella Lawson egg shaped mixing bowls, but it's not too challenging to do this freehand. Apply glue to the cardboard. Why is it that children love paste so much?

Use a selection of ribbon offcuts which are wide enough to cover the egg. If you don't have ribbon available, use strips of coloured paper (old wrapping paper or strips from magazines) or fabric. Next, stick ribbon offcuts in horizontal stripes across the egg, until the egg shape is entirely covered. This is also great motor skill practice for the little ones. Allow to dry.

When dry, turn the egg over so that the ribbon is facing downwards. Trim the excess ribbon strips, leaving you with an egg shape. We used sticky tape to stick a long piece of ribbon to the back of the egg and hung them up on the rungs of our stairs. Alternatively, hang from a tree branch to create an Easter Egg tree.

Disclaimer: I also feel the need to assure you that my Oobi obsession is not out of control, despite what these photos might suggest! The first photo of Eloise was taken after her end of term dance concert, and the second was taken the next day, just before her 'big sister' celebration lunch. Oobi clothes just happen to be our celebration staple!

Introducing Ava

2011-04-05T20:51:00.000+10:00

I'm so excited to finally be introducing little Ava. She was born bright and early at 3.45am last Thursday and Mum, Dad and big sister Eloise are absolutely besotted. As you can see, she has a lovely full head of hair which will be perfect for hair clips! We arrived home from the hospital yesterday and are settling in nicely. Many thanks for those orders that have been made over the last few days - I'll be sending these out this coming Thursday.

A postage and baby update...

2011-03-30T09:53:00.000+11:00

I'm still waiting impatiently for baby's arrival, but the wait is almost over... I'm going into hospital tonight to hopefully get this baby moving. With any luck my next post will feature our new addition to the family.

In the meantime, all orders made between now and Thursday 7 April will be posted on Thursday 7 April 2011. Thank you for your patience and all the well wishing messages I've received this week!

Baby's almost here: postage & emails during late March/early April

2011-03-17T13:51:00.000+11:00

Well, baby is almost ready to make an appearance, and if it hasn't by 28 March, it will then! At the moment I'm completing and posting all orders on the same day they are received in anticipation of the possibility of being off line for a few days. I'll keep doing this until the big day arrives, but if you make an order from now on through to early April and don't hear from me for 4 -5 days please assume that I'm making a short pit-stop at the hospital and will get back to you and your order shortly.

Mee a Bee Japan Earthquake Appeal

2011-03-15T14:15:00.001+11:00

Some of you may remember my pregnancy related sleeplessness and late night shopping for Eloise at Mee a Bee. I bought Eloise an uber cute Ballerina bag which is waiting patiently to be given to big sister upon the arrival of baby which is expected very soon. Mee a Bee is run by the lovely Jacqui. Jacqui is a New Zealander who lives in Japan with her family. Thankfully, following the devastating earthquake and tsunami that has stricken Japan, Jacqui and her family are safe and well, and Jacqui is running a fund-raising raffle over here at her blog where, by making a donation, you can be in the running to win a $50 Mee a Bee prize pack. I have made my donation via the Australian Red Cross Japan & Pacific Disaster Appeal 2011.

New: Snap clip and ponytail holder designs

2011-03-14T20:15:00.000+11:00

Some new snap clip designs are now available at Please Eloise... Eloise is besotted with these Olivia deer clips, and I'm in love with the Victoria clips below. Both are also available in ponytail holders.

Custom order: Mini alligator clips

2011-03-06T20:52:00.000+11:00

I've finally finished working my day job, so it's just a waiting game now until baby arrives. Luckily for me, I've been kept busy with plenty of orders this weekend and wanted to show off this custom order of little pretties. Excuse the photography, it's certainly not my best effort! This is an order for the lovely Jas - you can get to know more about Jas over at her fabulous Mummy blog here. These are custom button mini alligator clips with Jas' choice of buttons and ribbon for her lovely little miss Layla. I'm so pleased with how they have turned out... Jas, I hope you like them! Orders for custom button alligator clips, in mini or regular size, can be made here.

Christchurch Earthquake Appeal for Kids of Christchurch

2011-02-25T22:45:00.000+11:00

The devastating news from Christchurch this week has been beyond imagination. I have family in Christchurch including a cousin from Lyttleton, the location of the Earthquake's epicentre, and I'm so lucky to be able to report that they are all safe. My thoughts go out to everyone who has been affected by this terrible disaster. I'm so pleased to be able to make a contribution, however small, to some of those affected, via Please Eloise's donation to the Christchurch Earthquake Appeal for Kids of Christchurch which is being run on Facebook here by Kids Fashion Review. You will find two FluffyButt tutus in Album 1. Bidding begins on Sunday 27 February 2011. If you are in a position to do so, please visit the page to lend your support by donating items or bidding for this important cause.

Tonsils: A Waste of Space

2011-02-24T21:48:00.000+11:00

Tonsils. I've decided that they are most definitely a waste of space - they are in my throat anyway. They seem to serve no purpose but to get infected, and here I am with only five weeks to go until baby arrives, getting over another bout of tonsillitis. Luckily for me I have Dr Eloise here to help me out.

New: Custom button alligator clips

2011-02-23T17:36:00.002+11:00

I often have customers that tell me they love the button snap clip style, but would love to see them on alligator clips... so these are just for you! Custom button alligator clips are now available here at www.pleaseeloise.com and at Etsy later this evening. Non-slip alligator clips are perfect for toddlers, those with fine hair, and those that just prefer them to snap clips. You can now design your own by selecting from our large selection of button styles and your preferred ribbon colour. All alligator clips are fully lined with heat sealed ribbon to prevent fraying, and with a non-slip grip to stop them from slipping out of fine hair. I put together this set using our 'Victoria' button - I love this beautiful style and they look lovely in Eloise's hair. Order yourself a matching set, or mix them up - the possibilities are endless!

A gift box full of guilt...

2011-02-07T21:31:00.000+11:00

A dear friend of mine, who will remain nameless, is also pregnant. She is expecting her first child and is, not unexpectedly, pretty excited about it. Her recent Facebook status updates have covered off her pregnancy announcement, her baby related shopping purchases, and today she let us know that her little one is officially on a waiting list for childcare. This update resulted in heated comments relating to the appropriateness of having children in childcare, about comparisons between working and stay at home mums, and there were an awful lot of assumptions and judgments (not particularly complimentary ones) made about why women with children return to work and place their children in childcare. It created such furor that I felt compelled to write about it here.

After reading these comments I wrote to my friend and told her about the unexpected gift that I received, as a mother, with the arrival of Eloise - a beautifully wrapped gift box full of guilt. I managed to fill this gift box on my own pretty convincingly. Was it okay that I needed to help my baby out with baby formula? Was it okay that she only seemed to stop whinging when Baby Einstein was on the television, and then, was she watching too much television? Was it okay that I let her come to bed with me at 5am just so that we could get an extra hour of sleep? Was it okay to send her to childcare so that I could return to work? I also quickly discovered that if I couldn't find something to fill the box with, there were plenty of other women around me to help me fill it, in some subtle and not so subtle ways.

In short, this post is not about whether or not children should be placed in childcare, about whether they should watch television, or anything else of the sort. It's about how quick we can be, as Mothers, to judge each other and the way we care for our children. I can't help but feel that we could all be gentler with each other, and trust that each of us knows what we need to do in the best interests of our children. I truly believe that as Mothers, we really need to support each other and not be our own worst enemies.

Happy Australia Day

2011-01-26T22:05:00.000+11:00

Happy Australia Day all! It's been the hottest summer day that I can remember for a long time here in Sydney, and we spent Australia Day in the air conditioning, swimming in my parents pool and enjoying a barbeque with these delicious little pavlovas. The not so celebration worthy news is that Eloise, although not too unhappy, has been sick and running high fevers, and I've discovered that being heavily pregnant in 40 degree heat is less than amusing! I hope you all had a lovely Australia Day, no matter where you may be.

Supporting the QLD Premier's Flood Appeal

2011-01-20T20:25:00.000+11:00

In support of the QLD Premier's Flood Appeal I'm so happy to announce that Please Eloise's donations to the Handmade Kids & Rudy & The Dodo Appeal and the Australian Flood Appeal over at Etsy, raised over $220 for this much needed fund. I was also lucky enough to win this gorgeous Oobi Darcy Pettiskirt generously donated by Carousel Boutique in the Summerblossom Flood Relief Auction, the funds of which were also donated to the QLD Premier's Flood Appeal. I'm very pleased with my win - who would have thought that I could indulge my Oobi obsession and donate to the Flood Appeal at the same time?!

Another great way to support the Flood Appeal

2011-01-13T21:29:00.000+11:00

I'm so proud to be a member of the wonderful Etsy group the Dust Team. Some of the team's amazing ladies are working hard behind the scenes to raise money for the Queensland Premier's Disaster Relief Appeal by setting up this store on Etsy. The store is stocked with donations from fellow Etsy sellers and the proceeds of all sales (minus Etsy and Paypal fees) will be donated to the QLD Premier's Disaster Relief Appeal. It's a great way to donate within your budget and pick up something nice at the same time. Please Eloise has donated an Ella the Elephant Hair Clip Holder, so keep a look out for it - it will be added to the shop soon!

Flood Appeal Auction

2011-01-11T17:38:00.000+11:00

In support of those affected by the unfolding disaster in Queensland, Handmade Kids & Rudy and the Dodo have joined forces to hold a Flood Appeal Auction over at their dedicated Facebook page here. Please Eloise have donated FluffyButt Tutus and a selection of hair accessories pictured below to support this much needed cause. The devastation caused by this disaster is unimaginable and my heart goes out to everyone who has been touched by this tragedy. Please visit the auction page to donate items or provide your support by placing a bid. The auction commences on Friday 14 January 2011.

The auction starts

Sleeplessness & shopping...

2011-01-06T05:23:00.000+11:00

I'm a terrible sleeper when I'm pregnant. I get to sleep without a problem, but wake up during the night for hours and end up twiddling my fingers - or worse - shopping on the internet! It's just after 5am here and I've been awake since 4am. At 4.30am I decided that I may as well get up and surf the internet, which is when I discovered that Jacqui from Mee a Bee is having a 50% off January sale. Honestly, it was like waving a red rag to a bull. I've been meaning to buy one of these cute little bags for Eloise for a while now, and I thought that it would make a lovely little present for her when the baby arrives... so what could I do but buy one?! To find out more and get your discount code, you can visit Mee a Bee on Facebook here.

So long 2010....

2010-12-31T08:33:00.002+11:00

Eloise enjoying Christmas celebrations at my Mother-in-Law's house

Let's get one thing straight - I hate New Years Eve and New Years Resolutions. Yes, it's true... I'm the Grinch of New Years. As far as NYE goes, I hate the expectation that I should be venturing out for a huge night with a tonne of people, and most importantly, that when I want to get home, I can't get home... not without a 2 hour wait for a taxi on a good night, or battling with enormous crowds pushing and shoving to get onto public transport which certainly will not take me home in a speedy manner. This is not my idea of fun, and seeing as Eloise is terrified of Fireworks, she may be already following in my footsteps!

A fantastic family holiday to Hawaii - hopefully not our last

I'm not a lover of New Years Resolutions because during the year when I decide that I want to do something, I just do it. I don't have a big problem with committing, and I don't like waiting, so the idea of committing to something only because it's the start of a new year doesn't really suit me.

April 2010 - my little pussycat is growing up

Now, with that rant over, I really am looking forward to the arrival of 2011! I'm excited about the arrival of our new baby, taking some time off work to spend with my beautiful family and finding some more time for crafting and Please Eloise. That's not to dismiss 2010, which really has been a wonderful year. I've captured just some of the highlights with these photos, but to list them here for you, I've been lucky enough to experience my family and friends, market success, a fantastic family holiday to Hawaii, a new job, pregnancy, and a big year in the development of Eloise who is truly turning into her own little personality. I wonder what I'll be writing this time next year? Wishing you all a wonderful New Year, no matter how you like to celebrate it!
Follow my blog with bloglovin

Little Red Riding Hood

2010-12-20T21:54:00.000+11:00

As you have probably guessed from the selection of Little Red Riding Hood accessories available at Please Eloise, I have a soft spot for this classic fairy tale. My Mum knitted these gorgeous dolls for Eloise's birthday and I think she did an amazing job. I particularly love the wolf's bushy tail and the detail in Little Red's basket. These photographs have been a long time coming, but I wanted to share the fabulousness...thanks Mum!

The Gingerbread House...

2010-12-18T08:57:00.000+11:00

Now that my markets are over and I have a little more time on my hands, I was inspired by the lovely Retro Mummy and Sarah from Madi & Me to decorate my first ever Gingerbread House. Eloise was a great help selecting (and taste testing) the lollies, and I have to say that I'm very pleased to declare our first attempt a success.

A special 24 hour discount...

2010-12-15T19:49:00.000+11:00

Head over to our Facebook page to find out how to claim a special discount for the next 24 hours only. This is a great chance to get some of that last minute Christmas shopping done... but you'll need to be quick!

Taking a break from markets...

2010-12-08T21:05:00.000+11:00

I love markets - I truly do - but having said that, I'm really excited about taking break from them. Preparing for markets is alot of hard work and, as baby gets bigger, I'm finding it tougher to stay on my feet for long periods of time. On a vain note, I'd also like my ankles to maintain their presence for as long as possible and not turn into the dreaded 'cankles' too quickly! So, with my markets finished for 2010, I'll be taking a break until after our new family addition arrives and we've settled back into daily life.

I'm looking forward to having some time to work on some crafty pursuits that I haven't had time for. Eloise and I will be decorating a gingerbread house on my day off this Friday, I have lots of fabric offcuts to sew up some cute bibs, I want to make a pin board for Eloise's room so that she can display her works of art, and on Sunday I bought a Moda 'Bliss' charm pack from Retro Mummy to try my first ever quilt. Thank you to everyone who has come to visit me at various markets this year... I look forward to getting back into the swing of things in the second half of next year.

New arrival: Felt Gingerbread Houses

2010-12-07T20:40:00.000+11:00

I love these little felt Gingerbread Houses. Unfortunately I didn't manage to get them finished in time for my big market weekend, but I have managed to list them instore just in time for Christmas. They're available with brooch backs or securely attached to non-slip lined alligator clips, with your choice of hot pink or red accents. At $7.50 each, they also make great value stocking fillers. Be quick though... I have limited numbers of each!

Handmade Living has arrived...

2010-12-06T17:49:00.000+11:00

It's been a long and exciting wait, but Handmade Living has finally arrived and is available to purchase! I picked up my copy at Handmade Market on Saturday, and had trouble putting it down to serve all the customers who had come to visit our stall. It's full of beautiful ideas and inspiration for lovers of handmade - you can order your own copy here or pick one up at a bookstore near you. This is a great Christmas gift idea... you can also spot Please Eloise in its glossy pages.

Here's our Sweet Tooth Gift Set in the top right hand corner...

...and our Tea for Two hair clips in the inside covers - top row, third from the left.

On the count down to... Mathilda's Market, Sydney

2010-11-29T20:11:00.000+11:00

Heading straight back from Canberra to Sydney, we're gearing up for a big weekend of Christmas markets. On Sunday 5 December 2010 you will find me and my brother's gorgeous girlfriend and brain child of Project Seeds, Liz, at Mathilda's Market, Lane Cove. This will be my last market until after Baby arrives in March, and a spectacular one to end the year with.

On the count down to... Canberra's Handmade Market

2010-11-24T20:50:00.000+11:00

The next big event in my market calendar is Canberra's Handmade Market. I love this market... the only problem I have is not spending all my earnings on the amazing stalls around me! You will find me, my husband and the best sister-in-law that anyone could ask for, Kristy, at the special Christmas Twilight Market on Saturday 4 December 2010. With extended hours - we'll be on the go until 7pm! - there will be plenty of opportunity to pick up an enviable selection of Christmas gifts.

VIP discount cards with all November orders

2010-11-22T19:34:00.000+11:00

Get your Christmas orders in early this November because all orders made during the month will receive a VIP discount card for use throughout 2011. Keep it for yourself, or give it with your gift... it's the gift that keeps on giving!

Project Seeds - Have you visited?

2010-11-20T16:04:00.000+11:00

Looking for a fabulous new blog to follow? Project Seeds, the brain child of my brother's gorgeous girlfriend Liz, encourages readers to take small yet significant steps, which will all, in the long run, make a huge difference to our planet. It isn't about making you feel guilty about climate change, but to inspire you to incorporate sustainable steps into your lives. You can also follow Project Seeds on Facebook here.

Just in: Felt hair clips

2010-11-19T17:38:00.000+11:00

I've finally found some time to photograph our new felt hair clip arrivals. All available at www.pleaseeloise.com for a snap-me-up price of $6. These make great Christmas stocking stuffers... more to see instore.

And the winners are...

2010-11-16T18:04:00.000+11:00

"Kiss Me Quick" - Winner: Michelle Jenny Murphy

A small technical hitch has delayed the announcement of our "Name Us & Win" winners, but better late than never, so (insert drum roll here)... congratulations to:

♥♥♥ Michelle Jenny Murphy ♥♥♥

♥♥♥ Kathy Dalton ♥♥♥

♥♥♥ Lindy Summerton ♥♥♥

♥♥♥ Sarah Linette ♥♥♥

Congratulations ladies and thank you for the lovely new names which are now immortalised on our website. Please send us an email or a message on Facebook with your address details and your preference of ponytail holder or hair clip (or Kathy, your preference of mini or regular clip) and we will send you your winning set!

"Butterfly Bling" - Winner: Kathy Dalton

"Kitty Couture" - Winner: Lindy Summerton

"Evie" - Winner: Sarah Linette

Fabric lovers beware...

2010-11-12T15:42:00.000+11:00

... the Sweet Broderie collection has arrived at Retro Mummy! Head over to Retro Mummy's fabulous blog where she's giving away fourteen fat quarters - one of each fabric in the collection. I'm sure that I could whip up something pretty for my little bump with these... that's if bump's a girl??

Don't forget to take advantage of our birthday treats by midnight Saturday 12 November 2010, and our 'Name Us & Win' giveaway at our Facebook page ends tomorrow... could you be a winner?

Sick

2010-11-10T15:45:00.000+11:00

Our birthday celebrations are continuing in full force, but I have to say that it hasn't been a very fun week in our family. I took a couple of days off work to nurse a sick little Eloise back to health, only to catch her sickness myself. It's been a rough little ride for the baby bump, but after a visit to the Doctor today I'm assured that we're on the mend and can look forward to feeling much better by the weekend. Don't forget, there's 3 days left to enjoy our 2nd birthday treats with your order at http://www.pleaseeloise.com/ and to enter our 'Name Us & Win' giveaway over at at our Facebook page.

'Name Me & Win' GIVEAWAY starts today!

2010-11-06T09:18:00.000+11:00

Our 'Name Me and Win' giveaway starts today over at Facebook. There will be multiple chances to win with multiple posts - just leave a comment suggesting a new name for one of our pretties and you will be in with a chance to win! There will be multiple posts over the next week with winners announced on Saturday 13 November 2010.

Don't forget to check out our birthday treats here.

It's our 2nd birthday...

2010-11-05T11:49:00.000+11:00

...and once again we're giving away the gifts! I'm so pleased, and still in a bit of shock that Please Eloise has turned two. I started this little business two years ago, and I didn't dare imagine the success that it has become. I've made some wonderful friends along the way and have enjoyed every minute of it. So, to celebrate turning two, I'm offering my lovely customers these treats with every order up until midnight Saturday 13 November 2010:
♥♥♥ 10% off your order at www.pleaseeloise.com using the discount code BDAY2 ♥♥♥
♥♥♥ A free birthday gift with every order ♥♥♥
♥♥♥ A VIP discount card for use throughout 2011 ♥♥♥

Thank you to all of you for your ongoing support. With lots of love,

Name me & win giveaway

2010-10-31T14:30:00.000+11:00

Our birthday is just sleeps away and, along with a super special offer for our lovely customers, I'm running a 'Name Me & Win' promotion! All you need to do to prepare is become a fan of Please Eloise on Facebook here and commencing Saturday 6 November 2010 suggest a name for some of the new additions found instore here. The winning 'namer' will win a set of their choice of newly named ponytail holders or hair clips. More information can be found on the website here. Spread the word and be in it to win it!

Sunday

2010-10-31T13:40:00.000+11:00

After a fun but busy day yesterday at Mathilda's Market, we woke up this morning to a slightly quieter day at home. Eloise has discovered a sudden interest in camping (I am definitely not a camper, so I'm not quite sure where this interest has come from), so Daddy decided it would be fun to put up the tent in our backyard. Eloise agreed and it's now filled with toys, she's had a picnic lunch inside and it is soon to be the location for her afternoon sleep. I hope you're having a lovely Sunday!

The picnic lunch

Our 2nd birthday is nearly here...

2010-10-26T20:07:00.000+11:00

...and once again we will be giving away the gifts! Be sure to 'like' us on Facebook here so that you can be part of the fun and celebrate along with us. Two years ago I was too nervous to imagine our first, let along our second birthday, so turning two will be an exciting occasion. Stay tuned for more!

Meet me at Mathilda's this Saturday....

2010-10-25T18:53:00.000+11:00

It's Mathilda's time again! Meet me at Mathilda's Market this Saturday at the beautiful Paddington Town Hall. The bump and I will be attending with some old favourites and new beauties... I hope to see some of you there.

They're back....

2010-10-23T10:12:00.000+11:00

Baby Pink and Hot Pink FluffyButt Tutus are finally back in stock! Find them here.

Blame the Stork...

2010-09-30T20:56:00.000+10:00

I've been a very slack blogger of late, and for this, I choose to blame the Stork. We're expecting a new addition to the family in late March, and whilst exciting, it's left me feeling a little grim and struggling to keep my eyes open! I'm hopeful that this trimester will bring about some new-found energy, some better blogging and new items listed in store at Please Eloise.

Turning three

2010-09-20T18:38:00.000+10:00

My little princess turned into 'big girl' three at the end of last month and it was very remiss of me not to mention it here. It's hard to recall where the time has gone. She had been looking forward to her birthday for weeks in advance, and was very pleased with her new trampoline, kitchen set and the many toys that she was spoiled with from family and friends. Many thanks to my Mum for making this amazing Hickory Dickory Doc cake for her birthday party. Below is my cake contribution on her actual birthday... many thanks to my local bakery (it's safe to say that I'm not a domestic goddess)!

Ponytail holder tree

2010-09-16T20:22:00.000+10:00

I'm still recovering from a fun but incredibly busy weekend in Canberra at Handmade Market and Mathilda's Market. It was so nice to meet so many lovely people and, after selling many a hair clip holder, I was asked how I keep Eloise's ponytail holders together at home. Here is the answer... as part of Eloise's 'bedroom blitz', I spotted this lovely little white tree at Domayne and decided it would make a fabulous ponytail holder keeper. It's a nice little decoration on top of her tall boy, and makes it easy for her to pick her ponytail holder.

An Etsy front page

2010-09-14T16:58:00.000+10:00

Better late than never... I've just discovered that my Hannah hair clips were featured on the front page of Etsy back in July! Hurrah!

The Ruby headband has arrived...

2010-08-20T17:12:00.000+10:00

The Ruby Headband has arrived! My Ruby snap clips are one of my all time best sellers, so I thought it was time to add a bit more Ruby to my store. Soft and stretchy, these headbands have been popular at markets, so I'm slowly introducing a bigger collection online.

Today

2010-08-12T08:11:00.000+10:00

I usually have Fridays off from my day job, but I need to be at work tomorrow so I'm taking the day off today instead. Eloise and I are heading out for a 'Mummy & Eloise Day' to see Tinkerbell at the movies, and then we will meet Aunty Elise for lunch.

We had a fantastic day out at Mathilda's Market on Sunday, so thank you to everyone who came to visit us. We had lots of sales, met lots of lovely people and Eloise had her face painted. What's not to like?!

This weekend...

2010-08-05T19:41:00.000+10:00

This Sunday you will find me, and my forever helpful sister Elise, at the always beautiful Mathilda's Market in Lane Cove. I always look forward to Mathilda's... it's a busy market with the cutest products for children and lots of fun. This time around we will be showcasing some new products - cute little button rings, some combination hair clip & ponytail holder sets and new 'circus dots' gift tins. I'm missing out on the City to Surf with my work colleagues... it's a hard life - I guess I'll just have to eat cupcakes, meet lovely people and do some fabulous shopping instead!

A favourite

2010-07-27T18:20:00.000+10:00

My husband and I spent the last weekend having a lovely time in Canberra where we made a trip to celebrate my sister-in-law's 30th birthday. On Sunday morning we enjoyed breakfast in Manuka and visited a book shop where I found this 50th annversary edition of To Kill a Mockingbird. One of my favourite books, I first read this when I was around 13 and I recall it was one of the first times I started thinking about studying law. I was horrified to discover that my husband has never read it - so I'm putting an end to that! Luckily for me, I'll be back in Canberra in September for Handmade Market and Mathilda's Market.

New: Beautiful Ballerina headbands

2010-07-26T20:33:00.000+10:00

New instore this week: Beautiful Ballerina headbands. Priced at $8.50 - available here.

One month on...

2010-07-17T20:56:00.000+10:00

A month ago today, Eloise and I were enjoying ourselves in beautiful Maui. One month on, I'm in cold Sydney with a manic day job, a tantruming toddler, a new house guest, house cleaning and lots of preparation to do for Mathilda's Market next month. Grim. On the bright side, I have an election to look forward to - sad but true - I'm a politics major. I must start planning another holiday...

Tutus, tights and tea...

2010-07-10T08:33:00.000+10:00

It's not too often that I can say how pleased I am to wake up at 6.30am on a Saturday morning, but this morning has been a little bit different. After making Eloise her breakfast and settling her down in front of Dora the Explorer, I opened my email to find the results of a beautiful 'Tutus, tights and tea' photo shoot from the wonderfully talented Cathie of Phunkey Photos. I think the photos are simply gorgeous and I've included a selection here. You can see more photos from the shoot here, visit the Phunkey Photos blog here, or become a Facebook fan of Phunkey Photos here. I hope you love them as much as I do!

Store update

2010-07-04T18:14:00.000+10:00

A quick update on some stock at Please Eloise... Bella the Butterfly hair clip holder is now back in stock! FluffyButt tutus in baby pink and Beautiful Ballerina necklaces have sold out again, however keep your eyes out for some more - I hope to have these back in stock within the next fortnight.

To market, to market...

2010-06-27T20:01:00.000+10:00

It's almost July and I'll be having a month of 'catch up' before I get back to the serious business of markets. I really enjoy showing at markets - it's fun to meet my customers face to face, hear their feedback and see what sells. It never ceases to amaze me that every market is so different - what flies out the door at one market might not move too much at the next, and then there's something different that seems to be hot. It keeps me on my toes. In the coming months you can visit Please Eloise here:

Sunday 8 August 2010 - Mathilda's Market, Lane Cove - St Ignatius College Riverview, Tambourine Bay Road, Lane Cove 9am - 1pm

Saturday 11 September 2010 - Handmade Market, Canberra - Kamberra Wine Company, Cnr Northbourne Avenue & Flemington Road, Lyneham 10am - 4pm

Sunday 12 September 2010 - Mathilda's Market, Canberra - Park Hyatt Hotel, Commonwealth Avenue, Canberra 9am - 1pm

I'm particularly looking forward to our Canberra road trip. Back to some preparation work for now though... fresh new fabrics and more jewellery designs to come!

Mahalo Hawaii, Aloha Sydney

2010-06-21T19:57:00.000+10:00

Is there anything more beautiful than experiencing a rainbow without the rain?

We're finally back in Sydney after a beautiful holiday in Hawaii. We had an amazing two weeks being treated to sensational warm and sunny weather while visiting the islands of Oahu, Kauaii and Maui. I love this photo taken by my husband - it captures Diamond Head from our hotel room on Waikiki Beach where we didn't experience a drop of rain. It was lovely to have some quality family time filled with swimming, sandcastles, exploring and some fabulous shopping! We returned with two extra bags filled with a bargain priced gorgeous summer wardrobe for Eloise and I did manage to splurge on three pairs of shoes (okay, so one was a new pair of running shoes!) and a great Coach handbag. Here are some of my favourite moments...

Fun on Sunset Beach

Sea Turtle spotting in Waikiki

Thank you for all the lovely orders while I was away - they have been posted to you today with your VIP cards and will be with you shortly.

Important holiday postage notice

2010-05-29T15:57:00.001+10:00

We will be jetting off on our long awaited holiday in 5 short sleeps, so here are some important postage notes for purchases made while we are away. Whilst our www.pleaseeloise.com store will remain open during our absence, our etsy store will be closed from Wednesday 2 June 2010 and will reopen on Monday 21 June 2010.

Our main Please Eloise store will remain open for sales, however any purchases made from Thursday 3 June 2010 onwards will be posted on Monday 21 June 2010. To thank our customers for their patience, all orders received during this time will receive a VIP discount card for use until the end of the year.

Five handy hints from a Cranky Pants

2010-05-25T20:37:00.000+10:00

I've been a cranky pants today... last week involved a sick toddler, a nasty bout of tonsillitis for me (again!) and a great but demanding new job, which might explain some of the crankiness. In the spirit of being a big cranky pants, I'm posting this list of five handy hints for those out there in the big wide workforce that might encounter me (especially if you encounter me in a lift).

1. Do not hold the door open whilst standing in the lift in order to have a conversation with someone who is not. I am entirely disinterested in having to delay my trip in the lift for several minutes in order to hear your riveting work related banter.

2. If I can hear you puffing and panting in the lift, something is terribly wrong requiring medical attention. For goodness sake, you're in a lift, not taking the stairs!

3. Personal space. Understand it. Practice it.

4. If you leave me a message and I haven't returned it, and you leave me another message and I haven't returned that, and if you leave me another stroppy message - all in the space of a couple of hours - you can safely assume that I'm not at my desk and haven't received any of your messages!!

5. I do not have hearing difficulties. If I disagree with you or give you an answer you don't want to hear, please don't take this as a sign that I haven't heard you and you need to shout. Really. I heard you perfectly.

So, with that little vent off my chest... do you think I need that holiday?!

Handmade Kids Clever People Challenge

2010-05-23T20:29:00.001+10:00

I was recently lucky enough to be selected as one of six participants in the Handmade Kids Clever People Challenge. As part of the challenge I received a little envelope of gorgeous fabrics, ribbon and ric-rac courtesy of Modern Retro Textiles and had to turn it into something handmade for kids. These are my creations which, with the creations of the other 'clever people', will form part of a fantastic giveaway on the Handmade Kids website. My creations are the first to be featured, so I'm really looking forward to seeing what everyone else came up with!

Pretty buttons

2010-05-18T20:47:00.000+10:00

I've had lots of questions lately about the lovely fabric covered buttons that have been prettying up my blog. This great set of digital fabric covered buttons can be purchased here - there are also some lovely digital pretties available for the sewers out there.

19 sleeps and counting...

2010-05-16T07:54:00.000+10:00

19 sleeps and counting until I'm on my way to Hawaii! My husband and I love to travel, and I'm just not happy unless I'm planning a holiday. We last went overseas in 2007 before Eloise was born, so it feels like a long time between drinks. I just bought this kaftan from Tea Pony for Eloise to throw on over her swimmers after trips to the beach. So pretty.

Beautiful Ballerinas are back in stock

2010-05-13T20:36:00.002+10:00

These tiny dancers sold out so quickly - but good news - my supplies have arrived today, so Beautiful Ballerina necklaces are back in stock!

Happy Mothers' Day

2010-05-09T20:45:00.001+10:00

Happy Mothers' Day to you all... I hope you were truly spoilt!

Super sweet

2010-05-04T19:54:00.003+10:00

Is there anything that's quite as fun as decorating cookies? In this moment Eloise didn't think so... we had lots of fun making, decorating and eating these. You can find the biscuit recipe here.

Mathilda's debrief

2010-05-03T21:05:00.001+10:00

Thanks to everyone who came to visit us yesterday at Mathilda's Market. It was another busy day, and I can't tell you how much I love meeting so many of you, seeing some familiar faces coming back for more and, most of all, seeing some little ladies happily wearing their Please Eloise accessories. My sister Elise definitely earned the lunch I took her out for afterwards, my husband enjoyed the cupcakes and took some lovely photos for me, and Eloise had a great time racing around with other kids and putting on an impromptu dance performance for some of my customers!

When a bedroom blitz goes wrong...

2010-04-30T14:06:00.002+10:00

Arghh!!! As part of our 'bedroom blitz', Eloise's new bedroom furniture arrived yesterday. Up the stairs went her lovely new bed, her lovely tallboy, her lovely bedside table - and then it all came to an abrupt and grinding halt. My favourite piece - this wall unit - wasn't going anywhere. Three big moving men tried every which way to get this up our stairs to no avail. It simply won't fit. So basically, we now have a $1200 wall unit that we simply can't get into her room... so if you're in Sydney and in the market for a lovely white wall unit, let me know. It's in brand new condition, and all my tears have wiped off nicely! Not, not, not happy.

Where in the world has Please Eloise been?

2010-04-27T18:16:00.002+10:00

Please Eloise has been selling online for 17 months now, so I thought I would map all the places in the world that my accessories have visited. It's slightly surreal imaging my accessories gracing the streets of countries as far afield as Bahrain, Latvia and South Africa, and just as exciting to have them making their way around my hometown, Sydney. Personally, I'm a little (okay, a lot) jealous of my hair accessories' travels!

Long weekend super special on FluffyButt tutus

2010-04-24T15:20:00.000+10:00

This long weekend FluffyButt tutus are on super special here. For a tiny $20 they look gorgeous teamed with some tights and a lovely cardi for winter... you will need to get in quick though, sale ends midnight Monday 26 April 2010.