a new path | the beginning

Once again more time has lapsed between posts than I had anticipated but life was a little crazy this week to say the least. It feels like I've turned everything upside down and I'm starting again...I suppose in essence I have...but it is wonderful. I'm excited and bursting with the anticipation of it all!

Thank you so much for all of your good wishes, congratulatory messages and finger crossing :) It worked!! I received an email from the organiser of the DIA GOTYA awards last Sunday...*dn dn dn dnnnn* (dramatic drum roll)...and I came 2nd!! 2nd!! I've been bouncing around all week. It's amazing! It is also the catalyst that has prompted the change in direction that I am about to embark on.


After pondering the significance of this award and it's ramifications I realised that I should be doing what it is that I love to do! (a simple realisation in essence but a profound one). Reaching this decision involved a lot of deliberation, a few tears, and long chats with family & friends. At the end of it all I had reached my decision to attempt to start my own business full-time.


Starting my own business was always the plan...but I was going to take this next 12 months to dabble, experiment and settle on what it is exactly that I plan to do. So it isn't entirely unexpected...it's just all happening a lot faster than I had ever imagined. That in itself isn't a bad thing either. It's exciting that it is all taking off with very little thought or input on my part...it's evolving naturally, and I like that.


What this all means is that in the past week I have put in my resignation as manager at the gym, dropped back to working 8 hours a week, and I'm looking at jumping into NEIS (New Enterprise Incentive Scheme). Hopefully by Tuesday I will have started the NEIS training: 3 months full-time study to attain Cert. 4 in Small Business Management...and will have this completed by the end of May, after which I start working on my own business for a full 52 week period (supported by NEIS if my business plan is approved). It is all very exciting!! I can't wait to see what unfolds over the next 3 months...

Just on a final update note...I have finally managed to make the time to finish off some new jewellery that I was working on and update my etsy site. I've uploaded these button rings and graphic necklaces to Hizashi. Yay yay!

ready to kick-start the week

January 21st...wow. 3 weeks of the new year have flown past...and we're heading for the fourth! (where does the time go?)





I had a busy week last week getting the GOTYA submission together by midday Thursday in order to have it couriered up to Sydney to meet the Friday deadline. Thanks to Melanie for the courier suggestion...I ended up sending it with Pack and Send (they have a branch in Canberra City)...who then send through TNT (I believe). I am very excited that I managed to get it finished and sent in time...& that I'm now officially in round 2. Thanks for all the well wishes...I'm keeping my fingers crossed as well! :)



I've uploaded a few more pieces to hizashi and spent the weekend making some more jewellery to re-stock 2 stands that I have at the gym. I managed to make enough to re-stock one of the stands...the aim this week is to re-stock the second. *Go go go~!!*

busy-ness, happy productivity and unexpected excitement

Busy-ness & Happy Productivity |

The first 2 weeks of the new year have been busy busy busy...and that's the way I like it. I've made some more jewellery that has gone up on Hizashi and I'm feeling very happy with my productiveness so far. I'm hoping to get into the graphics for Moyou shortly (in the coming weeks), and some more sewing, so that I can launch it's etsy store...but the jewellery has been keeping me happily busy for the time being.



Unexpected Excitement |

Whilst swimming at Urriara Crossing last Friday afternoon (where my phone was out of range) I missed a call and received a voice mail message from Object Gallery in Sydney. It would seem that I have been nominated by one of my uni lecturers for the National Graduate Award Exhibition. I don't know any more about it than this at this stage. I'm not sure whether there is a further selection process, or what happens from here. I am waiting until a reasonable time this morning to return the call...but I'm really excited!! Just to be nominated in the first place is astonishing :)



I have to get busy this week putting together an application for GOTYA (Design Institute of Australia NSW Graduate Award). There were 3 students from my department nominated for this award and there is an enormous further selection process! The applications are due by 5pm Friday...so I'm looking at having the concept boards couriered up to Sydney that day. Does anyone happen to know of a good courier service that I could use?

canberra's got style

A write up!! I'm super excited!!

Lisa (ninaribena) approached me earlier this week about the prospect of writing a feature about my ventures on the Canberra's Got Style blog. The article went up this morning!!

I feel so lucky!! Thanks again Lisa x.

a new year | a fresh start

Happy New Year everyone!! :)
Welcome to 2008.

I'm very excited. This is my first year in the *real world*...I'm optimistically full of hopes, dreams and plans. I hope some of them may reach fruition this year. What is that saying?

"Shoot for the heavens and if you fall short you may land on a star"

A little cliched...but a lovely sentiment nevertheless. Aim high and even if you fall short you will exceed your own expectations. I like that idea.


It has been a busy but wonderful festive season...and I'm more than ready to get back into my studio now. Rested, rejuvenated and ready to go!! Here are a few pics of new earrings that I have been working on.

etsy, etsy, etsy!!

This will only be a quick post as my lunch break is about to come to an end...but I just wanted to jump on and write very quickly that I MADE AN ETSY SHOP :) (and I'm very excited about it!!) *yippee!*

It is called hizashi, as this is the name that I have used in the past for the jewellery that I make. I have decided to keep my textile business separate from the jewellery business...and so the hizashi etsy shop has been born. I am hoping to get some more earrings made and into the shop shortly.