moyou etsy update

Another day has rushed past and my assignments haven't progressed at all...but my new etsy store for moyou has :)




After a morning in at work - my job as manager at the gym is sadly coming to an end, I spent the afternoon organising a quote for business insurance and uploading new goodies to moyou's etsy shop - some new katazome button rings and scarves are now on display.

moving forward

I'm finding it hard to believe that it's only Tuesday evening. The last few days have been so full that it feels like Wednesday or Thursday already!

I'm feeling much happier about the amount of time that I have to dedicate to my assignments now. 4 down...7 to go!! Go Amy, go!!

I spent the majority of today working on the graphics and logo for moyou (you may have noticed the new header already). It may need some tweaking still...I'm not sure that I'm entirely happy with it yet...but then I stop and ask myself 'will I ever be?'. I'm not sure that I will! I think I'm content to let it evolve as I progress.



So with graphics in hand I started my new etsy store. I've only uploaded one handbag so far but there will be more items to follow at a later date (once the study is under control...or done!). I'll slowly be making the move from hizashi over to moyou as listings end...as I'm in the process of registering moyou as my business name. It's exciting...the reality of it all is starting to seep in :)

To end the day on a happy note, I caught up with a good friend tonight for a milkshake and a chat...and arrived home afterwards to find a parcel waiting for me!! I love mail!! I'll leave you with some pictures of my new stamps. I can't wait to have some time to play with them!!

you make my day

I have two very exciting things to write about this morning...and it really has made my day. So here we go:

1. You Make My Day Award |
Firstly I must apologise because I am a little late in acknowledging this award and passing it on. Sorry!! About a month ago the lovely Melanie of Kimono Reincarnate awarded me the 'You Make My Day' Award on her blog. Thank you!! I am very excited and very touched that she thought of me when passing this award along...and it really does make MY day.

The idea behind this award is to pass the award on to 5 people whose blogs bring you happiness and inspiration and make you feel happy about blogland. Let them know by posting a comment on their blog so they can then pass it on.


I read so many wonderful inspirational blogs...and I wish I could give the award to them all. I would love to give the award to everyone who stops by and reads my little piece of blogland as well, but given that I need to select just five I would like to pass the award on to these people who make my day:

- Bianca of Hollabee
- Lara of Kirin Notebook
- Kaija of Paperiaarre
- Sarah of Little Paper Bird
- Danielle of Of Paper & Thread


2. Tagged |
I've just been tagged by Bianca from Hollabee...which is very exciting as I have never been tagged before :)

Here are the rules (Bianca's version):
1. Link to the person that tagged you.
2. Post the rules on your blog.
3. Follow the four things meme (original version: share six non-important things/habits/quirks about yourself).
4. Tag four random people (original version: six people) at the end of your post by linking to their blogs.
5. Let each random person know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their website.

Four jobs I've had:
- waitress at a cafe
- shop assistant at Spotlight
- freelance graphic designer
- manager of a gym

Four movies I can watch over and over:
- Princess Bride
- The Labyrinth
- 10 Things I Hate About You
- Hero

Four places I have lived:
- Eugowra, NSW
- Hiroshima, Japan
- Yackandandah, VIC
- Kyoto, Japan

Four TV shows I love:
- Law & Order (any of them)
- The Biggest Loser
- Friends
- Dirty, Sexy, Money

Four places I have been on holiday:
- New Zealand
- Bermagui, NSW
- Lorne, VIC
- Peregian Beach, QLD

Four of my favourite dishes:
- Lasagne
- Mabo Dofu
- Spinakopita
- Gyoza

Four websites I visit daily:
- Paperiaarre
- Little Paper Bird
- Of Paper & Thread
- Kirin Notebook
(everyone on my blogroll really!)

Four places I would rather be now:
- With my family (in various parts of Australia)
- In Kyoto again
- Visiting my friends in Finland, Japan, the UK, Denmark, Holland & America.
- At the beach in warmer climes

Four bloggers I am tagging:
- Kimono Reincarnate
- Mizu Designs
- Blossom Creations
- Cheeky Beaks

in the local rag

Strange things do happen...it seems everyone today knew that I was in The Canberra Times except for me! I first got wind of it from my sister (who lives in Melbourne...far far away from Canberra) but subsequently had many more people tell me throughout the day. This is me at work in the job that I have just finished...in the process of unwrapping and cataloging all 166 entries into the LAND exhibition.

my very own little rainforest miniature

A couple of weeks have passed since my last entry and I have been meaning (the whole while) to jump on and write a post...but time has not permitted.

The study continues and from today must be amped up into over-drive as I intend to have all of my assignments completed by May 6: *go go go!!*. By reaching this target it means that I will have a full 2 week period to work on my business plan prior to submission.


I have just completed (yesterday) a job working in the textile department at the ANU School of Art helping to set up a tapestry exhibition. I had the pleasure of opening, organising and cataloging 166 works from tapestry artists right the way around the world. The submissions had come from all over - Australia, Latvia, Peru, Argentina, Japan, Germany, France, the UK, various parts of America...just to name a few. Every day was like Christmas!! It was a wonderful job. The exhibition is now completely hung, catalogued and ready for viewing. It will open to the public tomorrow and be on show for about a month.

I wanted to share with you my latest companion. He's a little rainforest miniature created by Russell Grace. I picked him up at the Old Bus Depot Markets on Sunday. He is currently living on my desk next to my computer and keeping me company while I work on my assignments.

gocco gocco gocco

*dn dn dn dnnnn* (drumroll)

My much anticipated (and very loved) Gocco arrived last Friday (a BIG thank you to Leslie)...and after I arrived back from my weekend away I was able to play with it!! I'm SO excited (still). I just can't wait to play some more. Love love love.




My very first gocco experience was with printing some cards (which have now gone up in my etsy store) with an original design that I created as a textile pattern and manipulated to use as a graphic. All in all I must say that I'm very happy. It will still take a little more practice I think...but practicing is the fun part!! :)

a journey home

Wow. The last week has flashed past in a blur. I'm still not sure if I'm coming or going at the moment and I have a feeling it might take a few days to settle back into some semblance of a routine.

The awards night last Wednesday with the trip to Sydney and back in a day was quickly followed by a day of creative flurry (Thursday) and work, work and organisational rush on Friday before a quick trip home to Yackandandah (to visit my family) on the weekend.

My boyfriend and I made the trip down from Canberra on Friday evening after work and my sister made the trip up from Melbourne on Saturday morning...so by Saturday afternoon we were all happily gathered in the one place (which is somewhat of a rarity for my family...not through choice, only by circumstance). It was really lovely to all be in the one spot at the one time. I only wish the weekend hadn't disappeared so quickly. I had been looking forward to it for such a long time.

It was the weekend of the annual Yackandandah Folk Festival and I joined in the festivities by having a stall at the market on Sunday. It was a lovely day full of positive comments and feedback. It was great to catch up with old friends and to see some new faces as well. I've come away from the weekend feeling revived and rejuvenated. It is always so wonderful to have a little positive reinforcement.


The beautiful sunny 39 degree day left me feeling emotionally buoyant but physically drained and quite sun burnt (ouch!). Needless to say I was very thankful that my boyfriend was enthused enough to be the vigilant driver for our 5 hour trip back to Canberra at the end of the day...and I was the grateful sleepy passenger.

GOTYA (Graduate of the Year Awards) Presentation Night

March 12th has come and gone...and the days just keep flying past.
Busy, full, exciting days. There is always something to look forward to.



I had been looking forward to March 12th and the GOTYA Presentation Night (hosted by the DIA) since I was informed of my placing about a month ago. A good friend came with me to the awards night as my guest...she also very kindly helped me drive up to Sydney the first time (and this time) and kept me sane for the interview part of the competition process back in February. This trip was a lot more relaxed...and the evening was very enjoyable indeed.



It was a 3 hour event held at the Stylecraft showroom in Darlinghurst, Sydney. The presentation of awards was followed by a lovely night of meeting, mingling, nibbling and drinking...and then a 3.5 hour drive home. It was well worth all of the driving though...an achievement that I couldn't have missed celebrating :)

*Eep!! This is the first time I've included a photo with me in it on my blog (and I'm a little nervous...but I'm not sure why)

assignments & creative urges

It's 3.18pm Tuesday and I'm feeling snowed under. I need to have 3 assignments completed by Thursday (Friday at the very very latest) and I'm still trundling through the first one. Why is it that everything always take so much longer than you anticipate?



It's tough. I'm still trying to find a balance...and with any luck I might just reach a happy compromise by the time my course is over! I'm finding that between full-time study and managing I'm not getting much of a chance to be whisked away by my creative urges...and this in turn makes me a little edgy and frustrated. It's hard to concentrate on the nitty gritty of business legalities and plans when you really want to be designing and sewing!! But this is something that I'm going to need to get used to. I'm still finding my feet with it at the moment.



Just thought I'd share a few detail shots of my handbag. Detailed pattern and stitching photos make me happy :)