Lullaby Mobiles

Small Business hotspot - Weepals

2012-01-25T13:30:00.000+13:00

Tell us a bit about yourself.

I am a stay at home mum with an 18 month old little girl. My husband and I own 2 businesses that we run from home. We live on the North Shore, Auckland (Weepals and Albany Auto Air).

How did the idea for your business come about?

Weepals were purchased from people we knew, he came up with the idea and we have expanded the business.

Apart from designing things, what do you do?

I help run our other business, look after our daughter, I do volunteer work for our local Plunket, and I love to scrapbook and also cross stitch.

Where does your inspiration come from?

My daughter. I was lucky enough to recently design our latest Weepals sticker (with some help from our graphic designer and have no experience with design work!) which is for girls. I love being at home with her, and my inspiration has come from her smile and cuddles each day.

Who has been most influential in your business?

I think other small business owners help me a lot within our businesses, we have close friends who own their own business and we use them to run idea’s past, ask for advice and support.

When did you know that your venture would be a success?

They day we brought both of our businesses!! With Weepals we know we have a great product and concept and our stickers are well known and sold worldwide.

What possession do you most cherish?

My bracelet that was given when I was born from my grandfather, I still wear it to this day!! Also my engagement, wedding and eternity ring I have, as they family rings that have been passed down through my husband’s family over many years.

Where do you see yourself in five years?

I see us in 5 years with another baby, still having our businesses and would have watched them grown from small businesses into medium sized business and owning a small farm with cows and sheep on it.

Whats the best advice you have received to date that you would like to share with others?

If you are unsure ask for help. If that helps comes from friends or family or from professional bodies. Also invest money in a great accountant that understands your business and can work with you to grow your business.

Show your support:

facebook

http://www.weepals.co.nz

Contact: info@weepals.co.nz

Handmade Hotspot - Featured seller: Chills Design

2012-01-18T12:31:00.000+13:00

Tell us about who you are

I’m Christie from Chills Designs. I make a range of handmade wall decor, mostly fabric covered pin/memo boards but I also make fabric covered magnetic boards and hair accessory organisers. I’ve never been much of a sewer but have a love (and sometimes an obsession) with fabric and I just love to create beautiful pieces of wall art with the gorgeous fabrics and contrasting ribbons. All my pieces have a purpose, whether its displaying photos, keeping notes etc tidy or organising hair accessories so I like to feel I’m not only creating something pretty to hang on the wall but something that will be useful too.

How did the idea for your business come from/start?

My idea from Chills Designs came from my children. We live in a rented house and cannot decorate so the children’s rooms are both painted in a plain cream colour. I wanted something to hang on the walls that would really brighten up their rooms and also help to keep tidy the every growing collection of pictures, paintings, notes etc! So the first memo boards I made were for my kids, we had great fun choosing the fabrics and ribbons and I loved making them. I then went on to make one for my kitchen and then some for family and friends. After successfully selling on Trade Me I created a Facebook Business page and a shop on Felt. The name Chills Designs came from my maiden name Hills and my initial C = Chills!

Apart from creating things, what do you do?

Apart from creating my boards I am a full time stay at home Mum to my 4 year old son Dylan and my 1 year old daughter Ruby. Originally from the UK myself, my husband and son moved here 3 years ago and settled in Christchurch. My husband works as a butcher and my days are mostly filled with trips to pre-school, playgroup & music group. I love my life as a Mum but it’s great to have a hobby for myself that I can really get into!

Where does your inspiration come from?

Mostly my inspiration comes from my kids! In the beginning I mostly just made boards for kid’s rooms and my son was always suggesting different fabrics or themes to use. Since moving onto making boards for adults too I suppose a lot of what I make is my taste, although I am really conscious to not just make boards that I like all the time. I use my Facebook page to see the interest in potentially fabrics before ordering and a lot of the time the fabric itself will give me inspiration for how I want the finished item to look. I have started making boards using two different contrasting fabrics and with the right choice of coloured ribbons you can really make the designs on the fabric come alive.

What does handmade mean to you?

Handmade to me means “Unique” Even if I make the exact design twice they will always be slightly different, which I think is great, it means no two pieces will ever be the same. A lot of my work is custom orders and so the customer will choose the fabrics and ribbons used and the placement design so the finished product will be specific for that customer. I love that each custom order I create will be suited exactly to that persons taste and so be special to them. And so the pieces I make up will have my personality and tastes in them. I know it sounds cheesy but I really do love what I do and I think that when you do love what you’re making it shows in the finished products.

Who has been most influential in your craft?

Again my children really have been influential to me, they were the reasons I started making memo boards and they have always shown great interest in what I do. My son always like to know the story of each order, who it’s for etc and loves when the customers come to pick-up their orders especially if they bring their kids and he gets to show his toys! Also though my husband has been a great support, he’s the one who persuaded me to start selling my boards and he’s there at every market helping me set-up and pack-up. He also helps in the “creating” as he is my chief board cutter!!

When did you know you were an artist/maker?

I don’t think I have ever seen myself as an “artist”. Although since Chills Designs has started to become successful I do see myself as a “maker”. I find it hard to compare myself to artists but like to think that my pieces hang on walls all around the country and are appreciated for how they look.

How would you describe your creative process?

My creative process starts from an idea in my head of a particular colour scheme or theme, I then pick the right fabric or fabrics and team it together with ribbons. Sometimes ideas come from the fabric itself, I have found that pairing a fabric with the right contrasting colours can really give it a different look. With my custom orders I love to create my customers designs and see their choices come to life.

If you could peek inside the studio of any artist, designer or craftsman (dead or alive), who would it be?

Since starting Chills Designs I really do appreciate handmade items so much more and now try to buy handmade as much as I possibly can. I love meeting fellows crafts people at markets and admiring all their beautiful products. There are so many local crafts businesses that I have come across and I would love to peek into all their studios! I’m always interested in how people create their products and love the magic of turning materials into a beautiful handmade item for someone to cherish.

What handmade possession do you most cherish?

I don’t think I could pick just one most cherished handmade possession, anything made by my kids is always cherished and goes away in my special box where I keep all my cherished things. But also anything made by my Mum is very dear to me. My Mum made pottery and growing up I always remember being surrounded by my Mum’s creations. Since my Mum died 2 years ago (and also since starting Chills Designs) I really appreciate her beautiful handmade pots and so they are probably my most cherished items.

Where would you like to be in five years?

In five years time I would love to still be running Chills Designs. I would love for us to own our own house and for me to have my own craft room (to give my dining table a break!) I would also love to have my boards sold in shops and run my own website.

Whats the best advice you have received to date that you would like to share with others?

I don’t think I have a particular piece of advice, but just generally to believe in yourself. My husband was the one who pushed me into selling my products and to start markets, which I am really thankful for as I don’t know if I would have had the guts by myself. Even now I sometimes find it hard to believe people actually want to buy my products, but with each sale I make, all the lovely comments I get from customers and the reactions from markets I do, my confidence is growing.

Show your support for Christie at Chills design:

Custom order - Notice board

Hair Accessory Organiser Board - Turquoise/Pink Birds - $10

Handmade Fabric covered magnetic board - $25

100 sales competition

2012-01-10T10:26:00.000+13:00

As promised, I am well over 100 sales (YAY!!!) so that means competition time! So, if you would like to win a $30 store credit towards anything in my store then all you need to do is look on the right hand side of my blog, click on the "follow" and "subscribe" tabs and then comment on this post that you have done this!

Competition will run for 1 week from Tuesday 10th January 2012 till Tuesday 17th January 2012 and winners will be announced here on my blog 8pm NZST.

Terms and conditions:

Store credit expires 6 months from issue date
Store credit valid for products over $20 only
Store credit is valid towards your product purchase only and NOT towards shipping
Only one winner will be selected
Winner will selected randomly through an Internet selector.
www.facebook.com/LullabyMobiles
http://www.etsy.com/shop/LullabyMobiles
http://felt.co.nz/shop/lullabymobiles

End of year thanks

2011-12-23T18:08:00.002+13:00

My last Christmas order got picked today. I so appreciate everyone's support on my facebook page, Etsy shop, Felt shop and on my Little Kiwi's Nest shop You have all been so wonderful and supportive and I never thought that I would get so far in 7 months!

Lullaby Mobiles & Designs would like to wish warm wishes during this holiday season. Keep safe, enjoy your family and keep those smiles big!

Much love

Nicola

Party for dogs

2011-11-21T08:32:00.001+13:00

I had a lovely lady in the states buy a custom order of the heart banner to you left from me in pinks, white and cream. I had to make it ASAP as it was for a special puppy turning 2 and had to be in the states by the end of the following week!! You certainly find out how quick you can make something when you need to make it quickly!

I waited very patiently to find out if she got it in time and I'm thankful to say that I was, for once, in love with NZ post for getting right this time round! Especially so close to Christmas! So on the 16 November, I went to go find her blog, and there it was! The photos! The party set up was so cute and I am so excited to have them featured!

Here's the link you can see for yourself and let me know what you think!

http://www.pinkpistachio.com/party-for-dogs/

I love how appreciated and loved something I handmade became :-)

Hanging by a thread

2011-11-12T08:53:00.001+13:00

Here are some photos of a recent item I've made, my pastel bunting/ garland/ banner collection of felt hearts! I got the inspiration from a photo I saw of white linen hearts. It looked so pretty! So I ordered some pastel felt from my supplier, made one up consisting of 16 pastel coloured hearts ranging from pinks, white, creams, blues and greens and I now have them available on Etsy for custom orders.

The amazing thing is, how popular they are! I have received 6 orders in two weeks just for this! Since I started Lullaby Mobiles and Designs, I always wondered if I would make something that would be become my most popular product, and this seems to be the one! I have so many treasuries and favourites on Etsy for these and it's so encouraging!

This lovely soft pink one was a special order that went to the states (and I really hope it got there in time!) for a special little puppy called LuLu who has turned 2 and her owner is throwing a special puppy party in her honour! How sweet!

Every heart is hand cut, hand stitched and hand stuffed by me and I threaded through about 12 feet of sheer white ribbon. The hearts are movable along the ribbon so you can make the gap between each heart smaller or bigger depending on how and what you want to decorate :-)

These are available on Etsy for US$20 each (NZ$25)

Once orders quieten down a bit after Christmas I will introduce some other colours.

Have a great weekend!
Nicola

Owl plushie

2011-11-07T10:46:00.002+13:00

I'm rather excited about this "limited" latest addition to the Lullaby collection! I wanted to do owls for awhile now, and even though I had created my own little owl for a door sign that you can find here I still wanted to make a plushie for my daughter. So I found a pattern on Etsy but added and adjusted a bit of the pattern according to what I wanted and 3 hours later I got the photos on the left!

Entirely made of wool blend felt in green and pink and for extra cuteness, I added a tummy squeaker and a rattle! My 11 month old certainly loved it even though it was for his sister! Might have to put one together for him sometime (in between orders!) Here is a link to a video I made of the owl :)

How much should I charge?

2011-08-05T17:00:00.001+12:00

That's a question that I keep asking myself.

My answer? I don't know.

But I've come across a few tips and quotes that have got me thinking.

BUSINESS TIP ~ When pricing products I think it is really important to 'honour the effort' What I mean by that is that work out how many hours you are putting in & make sure you are adequately compensated for this. If you can't charge for your time- then decide is this a business or hobby. If you are enjoying what you do and it is a hobby great but if not make changes as there is an 'opportunity cost'. Your time could be spent more productively in your business.... Kim ♥

This tip is a hard one for me because it can take me a couple days to make on product depending on the detail involved of course. If I pay myself $10 per hour for my time, one item small product could be as much as $100 and that's not even including my costs!

These days, people want cheap, they don't seem to mind that the $5 earrings they bought will probably break next week. I do understand people's thinking here as I have thought this myself. We don't have money growing on trees so when I do have to buy something, I buy on special, second hand or I make it if I can.

Since I have started making mobiles and other bits and bobs by hand, I have really started to appreciate the work of others.

I know I probably undersell my stuff but I don't want to scare customers away either. But here's another thought that got me thinking:

I’ll let you in on a little secret. I nearly doubled the price on a popular ring in my Etsy shop. I did this over the course of six months because I couldn’t keep up with the demand. Did I sell less of this item? Yes. But I spent less time laboring at my workbench and made the same, if not more, profit. If you can’t keep up with demand that might mean you’re undervaluing yourself. Sometimes we are so focused on number of sales (I’m guilty of this, too) that we forget about maximizing our profits and valuing our time. I found that my design became a real treasure to those who were purchasing it. In fact, my buyers were now investing in the ring as an engagement ring — giving it the value and meaning it always deserved.

It's an interesting thought for sure. I'm only starting out and learning lots along the way. I will win some and I will loose some. I will get some right and I will get some wrong. At the end of the day, I would love for this hobby of mine to become a fully fledged buisness, God willing. I will end with this quote:

Give Your Voice Value ~ One very important element we often forget to factor into our prices is our unique point-of-view as artists, creators, designers or knowledgeable collectors. Why wouldn’t our buyers be willing to pay a little extra to own something special? Something we’ve been pondering and perfecting for weeks, months, years or decades. Your incomparable voice is the culmination of your creative life: your education, research, travel, dreams, personal experiences. This is valuable, so give it value.

What do you think?

<3 Nicola

SALE!!!

2011-07-19T17:30:00.000+12:00

New Zealand School Holiday 20% sale off everything on my ETSY shop from Monday 18 July 2011 till Monday 1 August 2011

On check out enter this coupon code:"JulySale2011"

If you are wanting a custom order, please convo/contact me and with your request and I will set up a private listing for you with 20% off the total price.

If you live in New Zealand and would like to use this coupon code, please contact me with the item you are interested in and I will set up a private listing for you with 20% off the price on my Little Kiwi's Nest shop.

lullabymobiles@gmail.com

~Nicola

First sale, new projects & a market.

2011-06-21T17:58:00.000+12:00

Sold:

When an email came through from etsy shop that someone was interested in my colourful critter mobile, I felt like an excited little girl in a candy shop for the first time!

I am absolutely delighted to say that this mobile sold and is currently on it's way to Portland, Oregon!

New projects:

I decided I need to branch out a little and head into designing an owl and for a personalised door/wall hanging. Now if you read this post you will understand that it has been a very long time since I picked up a pencil and drew something, so I put it off and tried very hard to convince myself that I could actually draw!

So, here it is:

Since drawing this cute little owl, I went out and bought some felt and got on my way making a personalised door hanging for my daughter. I am very happy with the result and I am now selling this one as an example for a personalised door or wall hanging. I am in the process of making one for my son. I plan on making matching mobiles.

Available on FELT & ETSY.

A friend asked if I could make this owl in a smaller size so last night I went about making it half the size which is fine when it comes to the body but making the eyes, beak and feet took a little time due to the smallness of them... hehe. She will be making her new home in Australia soon.

And, I have decided to design 3 more cute animals, an elephant, giraffe and lion. This is just the drawing stage of course.

I have also decided finally pluck up the courage to use the sewing machine I bought and do a little sewing project. As a result, a little birdie was born and plan to turn it into a toy for babies. This can also be custom made. I currently have pinks, greens and blue fabric available in different patterns. I also plan on turning these into a mobile.

Vouchers:
I have put together some gift vouchers in $10,$15, $20, $25, $30. Also available on my FELT and ETSY stores.

Market:

I am very excited to announce that a close family friend has a stall at The SENZ 2011 NZ Scrapbooking Cardmaking and Craft Expo which is being held in Manukau Telstra Clear Events centre this whole weekend and has kindly offered to have some of my mobiles on display!

So there you have it! On the up from here!!

(Would love your support on my facebook business page)

The Silver Lining Butterfly Mobile

2011-06-11T19:58:00.000+12:00

I love how light and beautiful this mobile looks. Silver and white in colour and actually makes me think of the snow queen from the movie Narnia!

This beautiful butterfly mobile glimmer and shines with it's glitter and diamond wings.

Capture any child's attention as it gently sways to just the slightest air movement with a deco mirror hanging gently down the middle.

Available on ETSY
You can view more photos on my FACEBOOK business page.

Elegant Rose Mobile in soft pink

2011-06-08T21:06:00.000+12:00

I love making this mobile. I love everything about it. It's feminine, elegant and sophisticated.

This mobile is wrapped in lush green ivy and 9 soft pink roses with clear light pink trim chandelier style jewels.

Hanging by shimmer pink ribbon and a heart shaped mirror delicately hanging down the middle with silver shimmer ribbon and beads.

If you have a any questions as to how to customize this piece, please ask. :)

$62 USD and is available here:
Elegant Rose mobile in soft pink

My Etsy Shop

2011-06-04T21:06:00.000+12:00

I am very happy to announce that I have started up an ETSY account! Not only have I got shipping costs to the USA from New Zealand but also to Australia and the UK.

So here it is :)

http://www.etsy.com/shop/LullabyMobiles?ref=pr_shop_more

I also want to note that if you decided to buy a mobile to please allow for small variations in your mobile. As this is a custom-made, please allow 1 week to complete and 3-10 business days to ship to you, depending what country you are in.

If you have a any questions as to how to customise a mobile, please feel free to email me: lullabymobiles@gmail.com

~ Nicola

For a good cause

2011-06-03T17:12:00.000+12:00

To my kiwi followers:

On June 3rd (TONIGHT), Mums on Top will host a charity auction for Lauren, a 22 year old mother who has cancer. We aim to ease her financial burden due to missing payments on her car, needing a ventilator at her home ($6K) and to pay for an injection ($4K) designed to help the effects of chemo not be as bad so she can care for her one month old daughter Isabella.

If you would like to bid, be online, ready with your $$$ to get some AMAZING products/services from FANTASTIC companies.

A chat line will open at 6:30pm and bidding starts at 7pm. Here is a slideshow of what's available.

Find more photos like this on Mums on Top - Social Media Mums!

I have donated the Black & Red Flutterby Mobile to this auction.

UPDATE:
This went on Auction and sold for NZ$38! Feeling very proud that the money is going to a good cause.

It's in my blood

2011-06-02T21:00:00.000+12:00

Craft markets are in my blood. I didn't realise it till today. Since I was born, I have pretty much been to a lot of craft markets, more than I can really recall!

You see, my dear mom was an folk art artist. She loved to paint and she tried very hard to make money from it. She could painting anything she could get her hands and more! She took lessons and gave lessons and almost every Saturday we would pack the car and head on our way to a craft market, rain or shine. I can't recall how well she did or how much she sold, but now I understand my desire, my drive, my passion. It come from my mom.

She would paint into the wee hours of the night. She and I are both alike in this way. Both of us are night owls, don't even bother try talking to us in the mornings! I obviously try not to stay up to late because with two kids under 3 of which my youngest is still waking up at night, I would be too trashed the next day and I certainly don't have the luxury of sleeping in!

Whenever we moved house it had to be somewhere with a studio for her and ALL her stuff. She had a lot! As a result of her painting though, I took up art in high school for two years. I enjoyed it until it came to exams. I don't like pressure and I'm rather meticulous when it comes to something I make. I want it to be perfect! So I gave that up.

I tend to be good at almost everything I put my hand at, just not excellent at one thing. I was good at swimming, art, singing and whatever else I put my hand too. Jane of all trades :) In my opinion, it's a good and a bad thing. Good because I can try anything that involves my hands and being creative and it generally will come it great, I like the challenge. Bad because I always have to find something else more challenging. I get bored easily.

For example, I have made two birthday cakes now. A 3D duck cake and a ladybug cake:

I also enjoying making birthday invitations:

I have also done a number of pencil drawings which I ashamedly threw away when I moved to New Zealand. I've only kept about 3 oil paint canvases that are sitting in the garage at the moment. Shameful I know.

When I was 16 I discovered that I can sing. When I was 17, guitar lessons where offered and I took it up. 11 years later and I still love to play the guitar and sing. I studied vocals and guitar for a year and went on to become one of my music team leaders at my church. I taught guitar to kids for a small period of time before falling pregnant with my daughter.

Another love... photography! I love to take photos and I especially love to edit them!

So there you have it. Sorry for the long post, I didn't realise I had so much to share.

Lastly. Let me end off in loving memory of my mom. Love and miss you.

Red & black Flutterby Mobile

2011-06-02T19:34:00.000+12:00

Another one of my mobiles that I have a love/hate relationship with! I bought an express cutter to cut out the butterflies and the black card felt was easy to cut, but when I came to the red.... for whatever reason, it just wouldn't cut through no matter how many times I went over and over it! Most of the red butterfly parts I ended up cutting by hand. I like the end result though :)

There are 4 larger butterflies and 4 smaller ones all hanging by clear thread. The butterfly cut out's are made from glittered felt card so it holds it shape really well compared to standard felt which most people double up, stuff and stitch together.

This is part of my "Black, Red & White Collection"

Available for sale here: http://felt.co.nz/listing/52476/Black-and-Red-Flutterby-Mobile for NZ$34 + postage

Colourful Critter Mobile

2011-06-02T13:08:00.000+12:00

This is such a fun mobile and sure to bring colour to any room and delight to any child!

Made with foam animals that I put together myself. There is a frog, tortoise, chameleon and snake. They are all very friendly looking and hanging from neon ribbed ribbon!

I'm yet to have this for sale as I'm currently working out the shipping costs.

Copyright: Lullaby Mobiles

Designer Paper Flower Mobile

2011-06-02T12:58:00.000+12:00

The delicate paper flowers are black, red, white and silver in colour with a tear drop jewel at the bottom of each flower to reflect light.

It hangs on two strings rather than 4 and because of the weight distribution, the slightest air movement allows the mobile to gentle move and catch your baby's attention. The contrast of colour is great for newborn eyes.

I will also be making this in pink, purple and blue.

Available for sale here: http://felt.co.nz/listing/51872/Designer-Paper-Flower-Mobile at NZ$54 + postage

Copyright: Lullaby Mobiles

Hide & Seek Feather mobile

2011-06-02T12:48:00.000+12:00

I have a love/hate relationship with this one!

I had an idea in my head what I wanted to do with the feathers but when I went about trying it out... it just wouldn't work so I had to come up with a completely different idea! Thankfully it worked! I wasn't sure how it was going to turn out but I was pleased with the outcome :)

This is for my Black, red and white collection. Great for a baby's room! The contrasting colours is great eye play!

Made with black and white feathers stuck into white foam decor balls and has red glittered card felt spots!

Only hanging on two strings instead of 4 as the slightest air movement creates a lovely sway effect.

Available for sale here: http://felt.co.nz/listing/52027/Hide-and-Seek-Feather-Mobile at NZ$37 + postage

Copyright: Lullaby Mobiles

Hibiscus Beauty Mobiles

2011-06-02T12:35:00.000+12:00

I decided that this mobile along with the rose mobile, I would put them as a collection called the "Garden of Eden Collection"

This is a mobile is made with white shiny ribbon, white Hibiscus flowers with lush green leaves and a string of off white pearls to hang it with and a string of pearls down the middle.

For sale here: http://felt.co.nz/listing/52026/Hibiscis-Beauty-Mobile at NZ$58 + postage.

Copyright: Lullaby Mobiles

The Elegant Rose Mobile

2011-06-02T12:22:00.000+12:00

My first mobile... and how proud am I!

Made from silk white and pink roses, silk ivy, clear crystal tear drop jewels and a heart shaped mirror in the centre with sliver beads and ribbon. This took me about 4 hours to make and an extra hand, thanks to my hubby!

For sale here:http://felt.co.nz/listing/52025/Elegant-Rose-Mobile at NZ$65 + postage.

Copyright: Lullaby Mobiles

Lullaby Mobiles

2011-06-01T17:17:00.000+12:00

I specialise in hand making hanging mobiles suitable for child or adult, for any room!

You can find my humble business page on facebook: www.facebook.com/LullabyMobiles

I also have a shop on Felt: http://felt.co.nz/shop/nix

I look forward to posting about my mobiles, my inspiration and life.

~ Nicola