Inspiration via. Kit and Nancy

I don't know about you but here at kijaro we are constantly looking for inspiration. While there are many many avenues that you might look to get those creative juices flowing there always seems to be a couple of sources that just shine. One of those shinning stars in our world is none other than Miss Laura from Kit and Nancy, who we are lucky enough to call one of our vintage loving friends. (There has been many an op-shopping adventure, and one mighty kerbsiding trip, but thats for another day)

This lovely young lady never ever ceases to amaze us. She is a lady that is true to her heart, her thoughts, her friends and her passions. She never takes a decision lightly if it might go against any of the previous mentioned things. She is an op shopping fiend, quite like myself (but this op shopping behaviour has slowed quite considerably, with love strings calling her to Europe in March but you can read more about that on her blog), and just has a way with vintage florals and patterns. She just has an eye I tell you!

Laura and her wonderful blog and instagram (@kitandnancy), literally just see the world through rose coloured glasses and everything can be framed, photographed or filed for inspiration. She sees beauty in this world where others just can't seem too. And it is for these reasons that we really thing you should head over and check out her lovely world, thats of course if you haven't already heard of her. I assure you if you love vintage, patterns, art, and all things beautiful you will just love this ladies work.... Oh!!! and also if baked goods are you thing, this woman has the ombre cake practiced to perfection. And wallpaper I can't forget wallpaper.

Also I must add before I really should head to work, that she is taking part in an exhibition on the 1st of September with a bunch of other equally as incredible artists called Reframed at the White Canvas Gallery in the Valley. Don't miss this chance to pick up your very own Kit and Nancy artwork before she follows her calling to Europe.

The one and only Laura from Kit and Nancy

A bit of chair love

Patterns galore 

living like a local in Europe.

The Weekend to Tinker and Get Shit Done.

After weeks and weeks of being out and about all week and weekend, I decided that this weekend would be one spent at home tinkering away. Although we headed out yesterday for the Brisstyle Seminar on Selling Online we have done just that, and it has been delightful.

Yesterday Miss Amy and I headed along to the Kedron Library, with many familiar faces, to listen to people in the know such as Kirsten from Each to Own and Jess Van Den from Epheriell Designs / Bespoke Zine and many more about the dos and donts about selling online. It was so lovely to hear other peoples experiences and also hear what they had to say about being a tadpole in a very VERY large ocean. It think the most inspiring thing that I took away was their advice to just do it.... stop being concerned about your photographs, or anything else for that matter and just jump in. As one of the speakers said, your style will develop and your photographs will get better but its just about taking that first step. (I can recommend the Brisstyle seminars, you should head over and check them out. But be sure to register).

And that is exactly what I'm doing with the wonderful help of one Miss Amy Melksham. Not being one for computer, technology things, Amy has been so wonderful in helping me getting set up with a new website, logo, and all that jazz, (If you are looking for some help in the design world, she is defiantly your lady to talk to) ready for tonights launch of our new Facebook page, Kijaro. We have been busy this weekend photographing things ready for our 7pm vintage sale. It will be the place to be so be sure to head over to our Facebook page to see what treasure we will have.

I can't wait to see you all there. I hope you have all had a wonderful weekend op shopping, marketing and garage sale-ing, we would love to see what you all picked up.

I best be off now to get ready for 7pm tonight. But I will leave you with a few instagram photos from our day yesterday.

A quick snap shot from yesterdays Brisstyle Seminar

Behind the scenes of this mornings early photoshoot.

Come on over and see our new Facebook home.

Paper Dress

I thought I would share with you a project I have been working on. With my job I get given all types of interesting, and some times difficult projects. This one particular one was making a paper dress, inspired by the amazing garnets that were all the rage in the 1960s ( you can read a little about them here). After a couple of trials and testing different papers it was decided that lithography paper (the cheapest one, it turns out at 30 cents a sheet) did the job perfectly. Now we just have to wait to see what the students do with it. Have you ever been given some interesting and quite difficult?

The Surprise! and realisations.

Via

Well I must say the weekend that has just gone is one of the best that I have had in a very long time. Truth be known my weekend of wonderful actually started on Friday when one of my closest friends arrived in the country after just over 12 months to surprise his lovely Mum at a time when she needed him the most. Although the circumstances were not the best it was wonderful to see him after such a long time. So much has happened in that period and we are still catching up on the ins' and outs' of 12 months apart. Anyway, back to Friday... after picking up Chris Chris from the airport we headed off to my work where he dropped me off and I handed him my life in the form of keys, passwords, car and directions (Chris has never been to my new house nor did he know where it was or how to tackle the alarm system). Armed with all of these things, as well as the password to my computer to be able to contact me through Facebook he was off on an unknown journey to my house to freshen up after 3 days of travel from the Isle of Skye to surprise his Mum later that day. I must comment he did extremely well, except for setting the alarm system off. 

Our plans were on track and the surprise was set.. after some sneaky words on my behalf and 2 attempts to get Jude away from everyone I managed to reconnect Mother and Son. It was just beautiful, and exactly what Jude needed at this point in her life. There were tears, hugs, lots of shaking and shock but it all worked out so beautifully (Both Chris and I thought that we might have to preform CPR on his Mum, she was that shocked).

After all the tears and hugs I took a moment to reflect on a few things, one thing was that as we grow older and move our separate ways that it amazes me how much our view of our parents change, and how our priorities change to support and be there for them when we, not to long ago only really cared about ourselves and our journey. I have seen it since my move to my new house how much I really do appreciate my parents and what they have done and continue to do for me. The sacrifices they make for me and how much throughout my life they have put me and my needs before themselves. Seeing Chris drop everything and travel three days to make it in time for a very sad event just to be there for his Mum, to support her and just 'be' here for her. It really just a beautiful gesture. It has made me think, more than I have been lately, how much our priorities change and need to change. That we work so much to purchase things, and buy things that add to our lives when in actual fact the things that matter are not things at all. They are the people, memories, kind acts, love and moments in our lives that we to often take for granted.

I hope that you can take some time and reflect on your moments and memories and decide where your priorities are and what matters most to you. We live in a world where we forget these things and moments just slip away. Try to go out of your way to make this moments stay in your minds and memories forever, because these are in fact the most important things. 

I will be back a bit later to fill you in on the rest of my wonderful weekend, but I think I will just leave you with my reflections for now. kijaro xx

What are your priorities?

To do List, and not to do. In our fast pace lives we seem to forget the important things.

Take a few minutes to watch this beautifully simple piece.