black & red laser cut earrings | a new range | new shape

I have a new colour and a new shape in Moyou's delicious laser cut earring range to unveil...

4 patterns etched into 2 shapes (the rectangle, as previously seen in the red tint acrylic range and arctic ice acrylic range, and [the new] oval shape), in red tint acrylic and black acrylic. These gorgeous accessories are so very light and so beautifully patterned—you won't find anything else quite like them!

A selection of these lovely earrings have been added to my etsy store or, if you're in Canberra, feel free to swing by the Old Bus Depot Markets in Kingston, Canberra this Sunday to see them in person :)

new (reduced) etsy shipping prices

Following on from my etsy pricing dilemma post yesterday, I have made some adjustments in my etsy store. Due to recent fluctuations in currency values I have reduced my shipping prices on ALL items to maintain competitive pricing in the current market.

The big news |
Every item now has FREE postage within Australia!! (and international shipping prices have been drastically reduced!) So if you're thinking about Christmas presents, or would just like a look, please feel free to visit my shop.

etsy pricing dilemma

I am struggling with online pricing (etsy in particular) with respect to the recent fluctuations in worldwide currencies. I have been watching with interest the way that various independent designers/makers/artists have been attempting to cope with this issue but I'm not sure which way to jump.

Initially I thought it best to adjust my prices on etsy to reflect the price of my goods in Australian dollars...but this is proving to be a very difficult task as the dollar fluctuates by the second/minute/hour/day and I can't keep up. I thought about reviewing it weekly but I'm not sure that I would be happy with that outcome either. It seems fine to adjust my prices in this way at the moment given that everyone wins—Australian customers receive Moyou goods at a reasonable Australian dollar related price and American customers receive Moyou goods at a bargain US dollar price...but what happens when the Australian dollar begins to creep back up? How will customers feel about fluctuations in my pricing? And at the end of the day I wish to cater to a wider global market, so should I keep thinking in Australian dollars or do I need to be more 'global' in my pricing too?

At this stage I seem to be leaning more towards keeping my etsy prices stable and current with the US dollar. I realise that this may discourage some Australian customers from purchasing through etsy at this point in time (given the state of the Australian dollar and its relative worth) but I hope to be branching out more directly within Australia in the coming months and I am always contactable via my blog and email for direct inquiries and orders. This being the case, I feel that keeping a more 'global' perspective for online selling is perhaps the better path to travel for now.

Oh pricing! This could be a question for the ages...it has kept me going around and around and around in circles. I would love to know what other people think about this matter and how you are dealing with it, so please feel free to leave a comment :)

wooden etched earrings | a new range

Wow, Friday here we are again!
Another busy week and another addition to the growing Moyou range...

Adding to my current jewellery range (including red tint acrylic etched earrings, wooden laser cut earrings and arctic ice acrylic laser cut earrings), I now have 3 patterns etched as a fill and 2 patterns etched with lines into beautiful beech ply sourced from a sustainable plantation. Very light and intricately patterned, these gorgeous earrings are sure to add a splash of style to any outfit.

You can now find these beautiful earrings in my etsy store or, if you live in the area, come along and see me this Sunday at the Old Bus Depot Markets in Kingston, Canberra :)

Koto (Japanese harp) concert | Kitano Tenmangu market | Japan post day

Koto (Japanese harp) concert
Friday October 24, 2008
7:30pm–8:00pm

1. Koto in Japan

Beautiful koto (Japanese harp) music will be played in the lobby of Nishiyama Ryokan, a traditional Japanese–style hotel in the center of Kyoto (close to the Imperial Palace grounds and Shijo–Kawaramachi shopping area), for half an hour on Friday evening. This concert is free of charge, so if you are in the area please feel free to drop by and enjoy the wonderful music of this traditional instrument.


Kitano Tenmangu market
Saturday October 25, 2008
7:00am–5:00pm

Kitano Tenmangu, also known as Tenjin–san, is a Shinto shrine in Kamigyou–ku, Kyoto. This popular shrine hosts a large sprawling flea market in and around the shrine on the 25th of each month. This market, like To–ji, attracts large crowds and sells just about everything—from antiques to furniture, from food to plants, from household items to secondhand kimonos and obi.

1. Kitano Tenmangu Shrine, Kyoto, Japan, 2. Flea Market, 3. _MG_3152, 4. Kitano Tenmangu Shrine, Kyoto, Japan, 5. Kitano Tenmangu Shrine, Kyoto, Japan

You can get to Kitano Tenmangu by taking bus #10, #50, #101, #102 or #203 to the Kitanotenmangu–mae bus stop.

(*Please Note: These images by Jim Epler, txipiflick, MShades, and donnaidh_sidhe have been used under the Creative Commons license)

fabric packs & fabric pieces | a new range.

I have just finished updating my etsy store with assorted fabric packs & fabric pieces from my new fabric range...*yippee!*.

Whether it is a single piece of fabric you are interested in (for a certain project that you have in mind), or a yummy collection of beautiful co–ordinates that you're after, I now have an array for you to choose from.

These pieces and packs would be great for any small crafty project—suitable for anything from patchwork to purses. Let your imagination run free!

yellow leaves, blue sky | colour inspiration

red tint acrylic etched earrings | a new range

Woah! Another addition to the growing Moyou range.
Can you tell that I love to diversify!?

Adding to my current jewellery range, I now have 4 patterns etched into red tint acrylic. Very light, very bright and very cheerful. The red tint acrylic is great because it isn't a flat, solid colour. As it is a tint the colour changes depending on the light that you are in. I took these photos outdoors (in the shade) on a sunny day. They're so vibrant!


You can find these lovelies in my etsy store...or (if you're in the area) come along to the Old Bus Depot Markets in Kingston, Canberra :)

And last, but certainly not least, I'd like to send a big thank you out to everyone who has left such lovely comments about my new screenprinted tea towel range and my fabric by the metre. It has been great to know that they are well received...thank you!

fabric by the metre | a new range

I can't contain my excitement!! I have another new range!!

I have been waiting to do this for quite a while now and it has been in the works for a month or two—designing, ordering, shipping, printing, posting. And today it arrived! I can finally unveil my big surprise (that I have alluded to in previous posts).

...I'm proud/excited/happy to introduce to you...
moyou fabric by the metre!

The fabric is a lovely natural 62% Hemp/38% Cotton blend and I have designed two concentric geometric patterns which are printed in warm grey & aubergine (separately) with environmentally friendly, solvent free ink.

If you are interested in purchasing some of this delicious fabric you can find both designs in both colours in my etsy store.

Jidai Matsuri (Festival of the Ages) | Kurama no Hi Matsuri (Kurama fire festival) | Japan post day

Jidai Matsuri (Festival of the Ages)
Wednesday October 22, 2008
7:00am onwards (until approximately 5:00pm)

Jidai Matsuri is a festival celebrating Kyoto’s history which showcases an amazing, colourful costume parade. It is held annually in Kyoto, Japan’s Old Capital, on October 22. The first Jidai Matsuri was held in 1867 to celebrate 1,100 years of history in Kyoto. It also celebrated the opening of Heian Jingu (Heian Shrine)—a 2/3 scale model of the Old Capital’s original imperial palace. Heian Jingu is a Shinto shrine that was built specifically to enshrine two imperial spirits—the spirit of Emperor Kammu (reigned 781-806), who founded Kyoto in 794, and Emperor Komei (reigned 1847-1866), Kyoto's last reigning emperor. Now, over 140 years later, Jidai Matsuri is still one of Kyoto’s largest and most important festivals. For many, the highlight of the festival is the wonderfully colourful costume parade consisting of approximately 2,000 participants wearing authentic historical costumes spanning eleven centuries.

1. Jidai matsuri, Kyoto, 2. Jidai matsuri, Kyoto, 3. Jidai matsuri, Kyoto, 4. Jidai matsuri, Kyoto, 5. Jidai matsuri, Kyoto

Beginning at 7:00am, the festival opens with the imperial spirits being transferred in mikoshi (portable shrines) from Heian Jingu to the Old Imperial Palace. At approximately midday the costume parade begins at the Old Imperial Palace and from here slowly winds its way on a 2km route (5 hour journey) back through the streets of Kyoto to Heian Jingu.

1. Jidai matsuri, Kyoto, Japan, 2. Jidai matsuri, Kyoto, 3. Jidai matsuri, Kyoto, 4. Jidai matsuri, Kyoto, 5. Jidai matsuri, Kyoto


Kurama no Hi Matsuri (Kurama fire festival)
Wednesday October 22, 2008
6:00pm onwards (until approximately midnight)

Kurama no Hi Matsuri (Kurama fire festival) is held in Kurama, Kyoto–shi, a village North of Kyoto city just into the mountains. This festival is celebrated annually on October 22 and is considered to be one of the most unique and eccentric of all of Japan’s autumn festivals—and I have to agree that it was amazing, like nothing I have ever seen before! Participants in the festival carry burning pine torches of ever–increasing sizes (the final torches weighing more than 80kg) through the narrow winding streets of Kurama up to Yuki–jinja (the local shrine), which is situated in the village below Kurama–dera (Kurama temple). 3m tall bonfires (watch fires) are also lit (at 6:00pm) and attended to throughout the night. The festival closes with two mikoshi (portable shrines) being paraded through the streets.

1. Kurama Fire Festival, 2. Untitled, 3. Kurama Fire Festival

All forms of Kyoto’s public transport are exceptionally busy on this day (with two incredible festivals being held). If you do travel up to Kurama by train I would recommend getting there early and leaving before the festivities end, as trains do stop running around midnight and they will be incredibly crowded. To get to Kurama take the train from Demachiyanagi station on the Eizan Line—Kurama is the final stop.

(*Please Note: These images by txipiflick, whatsound and rikib80 have been used under the Creative Commons license)

wooden fence | colour inspiration

screenprinted linen tea towels | new colours & a new pattern

Just a quick update today to give you a sneak peek at some new colours (and a new pattern) that I printed last Friday in my linen tea towel range.


I now have 3 different patterns printed in black, burgundy & chocolate brown (with environmentally friendly, water–based ink) on 100% linen in a gorgeous natural colour. I will be adding all of these designs to my etsy store and will also have them with me at the Old Bus Depot Markets in Kingston.

back into things

Today is my first day back at home and in the office, so to speak...and I'm not sure whether I'm coming or going. I feel as though I've hit the ground running but I'm trying to take it a little bit easy as I'm not feeling 100%. My short break was wonderful and busy. I managed to get through everything I had hoped to plus a little more, which is always nice!

It seems that quite a lot has happened in my absence as well. I've had a few orders arrive in the post and hope to get those together to photograph, upload and show you later in the week.

Scoutie Girl |
I would like to send a big thank you out to Jan (and Lisa) of the fabulous Scoutie Girl blog. On Thursday last week (October 2nd) they wrote a lovely feature about Moyou. Below is a screen shot of the post but you can also find it here if you are interested.


Modamuse|
I would also like to send a huge thank you out to Nancy & Jessica—the wonderful designers behind Modamuse. On Friday last week (October 3rd) they featured Moyou in a great write–up. Below is a screen shot of the post but you can also find it here if you are interested.


Thank you so much for the lovely words and exposure! A big thank you also to everyone who commented on my last post and my new range of wooden laser cut earrings. I really appreciate all of the fantastic feedback—thank you, thank you!

One last bit of info for the day. I am participating in the October Indie Goodness Giveaway over at Scoutie Girl. If you have never come across this fantastic site before I really would recommend popping over for a look—it's great! This particular competition closes on Saturday October 11 at midnight (in America) for anyone who might be interested in entering. Good luck!

wooden laser cut earrings | a new range (and a short break)

Once again my usual pattern of posting has been interrupted but it's for a very good cause. I couldn't wait to show you this gorgeous new range (you can find them in my etsy store)...I'm so excited!


It is with much pleasure that I introduce to you my new wooden laser cut earrings. I am SO pleased with the way they turned out (and I couldn't help myself, I just had to keep a pair!). The laser cutting is beautifully fine and scorches the inside of the wood where the cuts are made so you get a stunning two tone effect. So lovely! Three new patterns and a new medium. Yummy!

On another happy note—I will be taking a short break from tomorrow. I am having a 6 day part-business/part-vacation sojourn in Adelaide (via Melbourne). It is unlikely that I will be able to update at all while I am away but I will be back on board (full steam ahead) come Tuesday next week. Have a lovely week/weekend. See you in a little while :)