Happy 2013!

Hope you all had a wonderful time celebrating the move into next year with your family and friends.

May this year be kind to you all!

Even though I haven’t been here for a long time, I did miss this space. I thought it would be a great idea to come back and do a quick post on looking back into 2012. It was big, exciting, very changing and challenging year for me, my family and BlueBerry Ash.

Our year started with moving to a new absolutely beautiful place, the area that I never want to leave. The whole move brought a whole new energy to our life!

year 2012_BlueBerry Ash

“Tribal” collection was the first prints of last year and so is the making of ”Tribal” summer blanket which later one were featured in Home Beautiful magazine. Participation in Spoonflower contest with” Baghdad” design and 100 likes on Facebook fan page were other nice highlights of the first month.

For Valentines Day I designed new love heart printables and the Bohema cushion were featured on front page on Madeit in February.

New free printables, my first big interview with Boxed Online and blog post in March at Free Range Living.New tote bags and silk hand died scarfs were designed and made in March too.

We adopted our Missy in April! New “Apples” design became most popular design of the year and my favourite market bag “Through Streets” was made in this month

More” Apples” in May and In-Laws arrival!!!

Interview on Etsy in June, first ever camping experience in Australia and photo of Knock Knock cushions in “Real Living” mag.

Skazka and Tropinka were designed and printed in July.

August brought Photoshoots in “Home Beautiful” and “Tickle The Imagination” magazines.

Through Street design were printed in September.

And to top it all off the opening of Digital Fabrics in October another project of mine.

Struggling with hardly anytime left I managed to finish of my last design for the 2012 “Christmas Print”

Phew!

chrismas3Things that I don’t remember when but have happened: BlueBerry Ash was mentioned in various blogs and sites including Apartment Therapy, I have opened an account on Societry6 and sold few things, three resellers’ agreements were signed during 2012. Great designers used my fabrics for their work. A Spoon Full Of Sugar did an amazing tutorial using my fabrics.

Thank you to all lovely crafters who enjoyed and used my work to create beautifully. Especial thank you to Plushka Craft, Piggleede, Seventh Sphere.

Year 2012

I don’t know what this year will bring, but my plans are HUGE and as much as I can, I will try to share some of them here. As for this year resolutions I have only one “Take it easy”. Wish me luck 🙂

 

winter treat

It gets cold during the day particularly when I don’t move as such and working on the computer. Really, I have never been cold as much in my life as here in Sydney. Cold outside, cold inside and no escape. Mean.

On one of those cold Sydney days like today, a lovely lady gave me an idea to make a cup of chai to keep myself warm. And I did, it turned out to be my favourite treat during cold days. It keeps me warm and comfy at my desk. As is my nature I don’t follow the recipes, but do follow some principles in cooking; it must be fast, not expensive and relatively healthy 🙂 After a few adjustments, I perfected my own chai recipe…So if it’s cold where you are, treat yourself with this winter warmer.

BlueBerry Ash textiles

Into the pot, with two-three cups of boiling of water pour two heaped teaspoons of your favourite tea, I am pretty sure green tea can be used too. Add 12 cloves, 3 peppercorns, 1 anise star, 3 cardamom pods and little bit of vanilla to taste. Let it all boil for about a minute or two, turn heat to the lowest, simmer for ten minutes. Strain chai to your cup, if you like add milk and honey to taste.

Enjoy! And stay warm!

New assistant Missy

 We were expecting to have her with us a bit earlier, but after surgery complications, she has to stay at the vet a bit longer. She been waiting to be with us for a while and went through a lot before we found her. She is about 2 years old feline, who were found on the street, heavily pregnant and was taken to the vet, where she had her adorable kitties. Super adorable! I was so close to take them home, but instead we adopted the mother.

You see, we thought it’s not easy for older cats to find home, it’s not easy for them to win peoples heart. Who knows when she will find a warm home to live in? And decision was made!

We called her Missy. She is settling in nicely into her new routine and fighting with Alex over her jobs and tasks.

Here she is, my new assistant Missy! Isn’t she is fun?

BlueBerry Ash textiles

Here is how she looks when she keeps her mouth shut 🙂

BlueBerry Ash textiles

Fine Finds: winter

It the first days of winter in Sydney. It’s cold. I love it. There is something comforting and cosy that cold season carry, something peaceful and slow. Warm clothes, blankets, hot cups of tea and winter cooking in the house indicate that winter is here.

BlueBerry Ash textilesWith this season come good memories. I think it the one thing I miss a lot from Russia, a proper winter with a good snow and cold. The feeling when you walk it to the warm home after being in the freezing outside, is invaluable. Immediate instinctive appreciation and satisfaction flows through your body, followed by so desired hot cuppa.

Versatile Blogger Award

 I was nominated by two wonderful bloggers Tori and  Morphodidius for the Versatile Blogger Award. Tori is from One Eleven Studio and nominated me a long time ago, I mean really long. Sorry Tori.  Morphodidius from Accretions Of Stimuli did it recently. Second time nominated? It kind of pushed me to participate.

 The versatile blogger award is all about getting to know other bloggers and blogs they read.

Here is what I need to do. Nominate other 10-15 bloggers (actually this part is not clear to me, as some texts tell to recommend 7 bloggers). Inform the bloggers of their nomination Share 7 random things about yourself. Thank the blogger who nominated you.

Here are the nominees

 Plushka Craft

Piggledee

White Mouse Creations

El Corredor GRISS

Cherry and Cinnamon

Hannah Byatt

Angry Pear

Eeli

And here are the 7 random things about me

 I can’t swim

I love walking in the rain

I am scared of dark

I love to cook but never cook by recipe

I snore 🙂

I like to peep into other people’s windows

I want to travel around the world

 Please check these two girls blogs, who made this post happen. Their blogs are very different, but they are both very talented.

Tori is a bag designer and maker at One. Eleven studio, she makes beautiful handbags and purses and I can’t wait until she will open her online store.

Morphodidius is an amazing artist, so many pieces of hers I would just hang on my walls. Seriously! This one is my latest favourite. One day I will buy her art! Check Accretions Of Stimuli blog to see her work.

More about me…

About a month ago I was approached by Sarah from Boxed, asking if I would like to get my fabrics and homewares selling in their store.  After a little research about the company, I said “absolutely!” So one month later my products are listed on Boxed online store and my profile has been featured on their front page. Interested to find out more about me?
Read it here
🙂

BlueBerry Ash Textiles

Hi everyone, before I go off to Christmas Eve lunch with my family and friends, I want to wish you all a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays. Joy, peace, love!

May your turkey be cooked well! 🙂