Are You Looking For Me?

I'm over at Tinniegirl having a fabulous time. Come on over.

Psst! I'm over here

Here I am. Well, sort of.

I've decided to spend more time over at Tinniegirl for a while . I hope you'll join me. Pop on over. The kettle's on.

Blogcation

It's time to regoup. The end of the year is fast approaching and I don't seem to have left enough energy in the piggy bank to get me through.

Balance is such a tentative thing at best, and sometimes blogging really tips the scales.

I need some time to read, to craft, to hang out in the real world and connect with people. I need to think and plan and dream a little bit.

I'll be back soon I promise.

Love Fridays

This weekend is all about the shopping. I'm getting on to my Christmas shopping and treating myself to a few goodies as well.

I'm starting my shopping with Handmaiden. Have you checked out her new Silver Soiree range? I'm getting a pair of earrings for me and a pair for our sister-in-law who's very hard to buy for. If you want to get yourself a little treat you should check out Sharon's giveaway.

I also plan to purchase some printable rainy day recipes for my other SIL.

You can get one of these packs from Little Brown Pen's shop. Her shop is full of gorgeous goodies. You buy them as a PDF and do the printing yourself. They make very economical gifts and you get to be part of the making. I really love the concept.

I'm also planning to buy some candles to give as gifts. Curlypops introduced me to Cupcake Candles. YUM!

Just to top it all off, on Sunday I'm going to the Bizarre Bazaar, the Melbourne Design Market at Fed Square and Nicole Mallaliue's open studio. You should come. It's going to be great fun.

Read All About It

I've just done a Tinniegirl shop update. Read all about it over here.

I've Changed But I'm Still Me

You might have noticed a few changes going on around here. Don’t be alarmed. I’m still my usual old self but I thought I’d have a spring spruce up. I really love the 3 column layout. More space for blog loveliness.

The other thing that you might notice is that I’ve changed my name. You’ll see me commenting around the place as TinnieGirl now instead of BigCat.

If you haven’t caught up with things around here for a while and are wondering why I’ve changed my name you should pop over and check out the new shop.

So what about the blogs you might be asking? BigCat’s Emporium and Tinniegirl? Well don’t worry. I love Big Cat’s Emporium with all my heart and soul so I’ll be keeping it going for a long, long time.

Tinniegirl is my new blog that goes hand in hand with the new shop and I’ll definitely be creating something special over there. At the moment you can check out all the things going on with the new business as well as a weekly “What Shall We Make Today” post to give you project ideas and inspiration. My vision for the Tinniegirl blog is to create a space that’s full of craft projects, ideas and tutorials, and a place to share your completed projects. If you haven’t been to visit, go and check it out.

You know, when I spoke to Handmaiden about starting a business she said something that has really resonated with me. She said that most people don’t think very far beyond opening their business. I found this to be very true. I was so busy and excited getting ready for the launch of Tinniegirl that I didn’t really think about what happens next.

The first weekend was so exciting and I was so delighted when I made some sales. The next week after that has been odd. I’ve been a bit lost really. Wondering what to do next? When do I update the shop? How often should I do it? How do I keep letting people know about it? What kind of marketing activities should I be doing? I have shifted constantly between joy at making a dream come true and the pervasive self-doubt and questioning that seems to be ever present in my creative life. What I know for sure is that I have so much to learn.

Another thing that has presented as a challenge over the last couple of weeks is finding places to fit all the different aspects of my life now that I am working, running a business, pursuing my own creative development, working on personal goals like exercise and healthy eating, blogging and trying to have a home life somewhere in there. I knew that it was going to be an adjustment and alluded to it in this post. I want to really enjoy this time of starting my creative business and take time to enjoy the fine details. I imagine at some stage that there won’t be as much time to take. I realise that there’s going to have to be time management strategies in place, that I’ll have to recognise some limitations in terms of not trying to do everything. I also think that priorities are going to have to be set and time out planned. It’s never easy to balance the many demands that life has for us, and I see how important it is to keep an eye on this. Again, the one thing I know for sure is that life-learning is a continuous journey.

So that’s what’s happening in my neck of the woods. That and some knitting.

What’s going on in your world?

Love Fridays

Like CurlyPops and Badskirt I'm off to Spotlight with my VIP 40% off coupon. Craft shopping! My favourite.


Do you Love Fridays? Join the fun. Post on your blog about why you Love Fridays. If you'd like a button for your blog you can grab it here.

On My Desk Wednesday

Lists and some more lists, the essential computer and a little bit of breakfast. Oh, and some packages getting ready to head off to new homes.

I love mornings in my studio. The light is so lovely and soft. Everything is quiet out in the world. It really is a magic time.

Visit Kootoyoo for more On My Desk.

Visit Tinniegirl if you haven't signed up for the giveaway yet. I'll be drawing it this afternoon.

You're In Business

You definitely know you're in business when these arrive in the mail. No really, isn't that what makes it official?


Business Cards! I love them. I feel all fancy, and grown up and, and....business like. Stop me in the street if you see me. I'll give you one of my cards.

If you haven't caught up with things around here in a while pop over to my new blog Tinniegirl and you'll see what all the fuss is about. Hurry though if you want to be in the giveaway. You've got till midday tomorrow.

I Don't Usually Keep Things To Myself

You know what? I've been keeping lots of secrets lately.

There was this gorgeous flossy-p brooch that I won. I absolutely love it and wear it all the time.
Have you been to her place lately and checked out her giveaway. It's a great one.

Then there were these beautiful bobby pins that arrived from A Little Bird Told Me last week. I can't wait to give these an outing some time this week.


They came so beautifully packaged too. I love great creative packaging. It's like getting an extra treat.

Many months ago I was the lucky recipient of a pay it forward gift of these fantastic bowls from Reenie-Su.

I also bought this sunnyboy from Quilting Mick months ago and kept meaning to share it with you. I keep it at work as a little toiletry bag.

Last but not least, I recently joined the Amitie VIP club. You get treats in the mail 4 times a year. How cool is that? Last week I received my first mailout. I love this fabric. It's definitely time to start planning some summer sewing projects.

So, there you go. I've really been keeping things to myself. It's not like me. I tend to be an over-sharer.

Then of course there was all the secret squirrel business that went on forever. If you haven't caught up on things pop over here. It's not a secret anymore. Thanks to everyone who has already visited for all the lovely feedback, ideas, wisdom and well wishes. It's much appreciated.

I'm In

That Kootoyoo is a fun girl. The brains behind On My Desk, she's come up with a beauty this time.

My answer is Curlypops. I'm feeling pretty confident about my choice. Let's see if I'm right.

Down The Rabbit Hole

Oh, how I love Fridays. No more secrets. Quick! Pop over here and you'll know everything you need to know.

On My Desk - Wednesday

I'm very excited that these goodies are on my desk and about to head out the door. They're top secret so I can't tell you a thing about them. I'll let you know when they have arrived safely so you can pop over and check them out.

I'm on my way out the door too. I've got 5 days off work, a million things to do for the secret squirrel business, and a lunch date with Curlypops and Project Incomplete.

Help, I Need Your Help

I want to do some jazzy things with my blog like put subscription buttons on it and keep track of some stats of who visits and and like. I need advice on what the options are and where to find information. Can you help me?

I've been playing a giant game of cat and mouse trying to find what I want. Now I give up and seek help from my trusty blogland possie.

I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For

Thank you to everyone who joined in the giveaway. I'm yet to settle on the names I'm looking for but it was great to get lots of ideas and inspiration. Ms L assures me it will come but it's feeling like a watched pot just at the minute.

Anyway, a giveaway is no fun without a winner. I got Ms L to pick 2 random numbers seeing as there was no outright winner for a name. The lucky ladies are Comment 7 from Betty Jo, and Comment 13 from Potty Mouth Mama. I think you're going to like your surprises.

Don't forget to pop around on Friday if you want to learn all about my secret squirrel business. I know you're all hanging out. Me too.

I'll give you a little tidbit to keep you going through the week! There's going to be more giveaways.