Recap of Year 2012 for us :)

Hello and welcome everyone!

I hope you've all had a lovely Christmas and New Year.

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Our first trade show - Baby & Toddler Show
via Mini Me and You recently last September

Our newest stockist - Mini Me and You's exhibition booth
at the recent Baby and Toddler Show in Sydney.
Did you spotted our illustration art prints? :) 

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Collaborated with Bookoola Ink - "Learning Childhood" poster series

We were very blessed being invited to collaborate with one of the publisher in QLD.
An opportunity to being part of their poster series named "Learning Childhood".
Best part of this great opportunity is Debra was lovely to deal with.
The whole experience working side by side with her was amazing! :)

One of my dear friend spotted our poster at her son's kindy :)

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So our first press appearance was in late Y2011. Click here for more detail

1 year later.....We did it again but this time is on print!

Tickle The Imagination's Magazine

The Gallery Wall's Spread

 2 of our illustration art prints are amongst the author's favourite artworks

I say.."sweeeeeet!" :)

In the Wood Series No.4 (Mushroom World Series)


Feather (Happiness Series)

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Working experience at the Ink & Spindle end February 2012.

These, has to be one of my highlights for the year!

I waited for almost 3 years to make it happen.

I blogged about it over here :)

 With Lara and Teegs' help..tada!

My 1st cushion utilising my own screenprinted fabric

at the Ink & Spindle.

and I made this cute little tote bag! :)

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It has been very silent for the past 3 months and here's why....

Photo of my eldest and my latest addition :)

An absolutely big news! A fruitful production after our recent miscarriage 1.5 years ago.

Life was miserable during the silent grief. I have also lost my creative mojo back then until bub #2 came along last November. How am I feeling now? I'm feeling complete and life is somehow more content..a feeling which I can't quite explain how but yeah :)

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Y2013 is going to be big

1. Am moving on from drawing not just the quirky mushroom and Minzy Girl. Yes, am heading different direction and new mission for how I want to run Missy Minzy. So stay tuned if you like to know more :)

2. Different material. New range. New style.

3. Thinking of entering homeware & textile or probably jewellery area. Something very different from what you have seen me working on :)

4. Spend more quality time with my young family. I have came to realize that anything can wait but my family will always come first. My 2 girls are only be this little once so I really want to enjoy being their mum as much as possible!

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3 big reason why you should check our massive sale!
a) 40% off on the entire range (existing stocks).
b) Great chance to snap up our large size (12x16"). There are only available at our downthatlittlelane's online store.
c) Am moving on from drawing mushroom and Minzy Girl (most likely). So there will only be a selection of illustration art prints made available by limited edition run once sold out.

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This year am going to spend MORE time enjoy creating

instead of sweating what others are doing and how come not me :)

Here wishing you an amazing fabulous Year 2013 in advance and

remember to slow down and smell the roses. Irene xx

Keep Calm and Carry On

This week has been challenging for me. I have lost my mojo. Not feeling very motivating to do any creativity. Any artist who involving in the creative industry will understand how I feel very well. You have your ups and you draw and admiring every piece of your work. When you are down and feeling low, you just don't know what to do to yourself.

A lot of time people might be holding back their feelings and thought towards what they do and not sharing it on their blog. Other time people might just updating you happy jolly post. Well, I reckon am the sort of person you get what you are seeing.

I guess part of the reason why am feeling blue is people are always talking about money. I lost my job almost 1.5 year ago before I had Peanut. So financial has always been an issue for me. Missy Minzy is my turning point as it gives me hope and lights when there's seems to be no light at the end of the tunnel. Writing blog about my adventure in Missy Minzy world is something I always looking forward. So you can see I have invested quite a bit of time doing all this.

The issue of being 'out there' is that you have to be aware of people might copycat you. They are observing what you are doing. I must have did something right then if that's the case, I think? I have received an email asking where do I get my supplier and ask to share my contact. In my honest opinion, that email upset me a lot. I know I have been helping people online and offline. I do it simply because am hoping one day people will help me when I ask for help too. In this case, I felt I was being taken for granted for being kind. Where is the business ethic?

As for the money talking. Unfortunately am not those sort of person. How bad is that? I need those skills to sell my work though. I would like to sell more of my prints and works instead of being asked to spend money on unnecessary things. Where are the so called help towards we the WAHM?? I reckon I will be packing up my piles if I were to spend all of the money before earning any.

It is very easy to get distracted. All I can do right now is to keep positive. I have to keep doing what am doing, making it perfect as it goes. Mr Minzy told me just treat it as doing it for passion and not for money (with or without sales). I felt like a poor artist when he told me that. Haha. Keep Calm and Carry On, peep.

ETA: (guess what? I just received an email asking to spend money [again] right after I clicked the "send" button. pfffft).

Challenge Day 12: Inspiring Pictures

Isn't he cute? :)

Just loving this!

Hello Birdie

Love the illustrator's stroke

Love that chair

I reckon you can purchase similar concept shelves at Ikea.

I love Red! Red is sexy!

We have a lot of these similar plants at our place...
it actually makes the whole place very cosy and nice.

Had a great time catching up with Fei (have not seen her for like 6-7 years now) in the city today. There's a cafe I like to go to have my Chai Latte in the CBD. So I took her to Journal Cafe. Their Chai Latte is (imo) more 'organic' and natural. It was a pity that I forgotten to take a shot on how they make it cuz we were having great time chatting away. :) All in all, I reckon I have found my mojo back and that explains why am feeling a lot better today. :)

If you have been following my blog long enough, you will know I love pattern, interior design, architecture buildings (weird ones), colorful and niche designs, Marimekko, Home decor, anything handmade (nice one of course)... I actually enjoy cooking and baking for my love ones. My new fetish is of course falling in love with all kinds of mushroom. LOL! That is why there's so many mushroom in this blog ;)

Here's some pretty thing I found and I hope you dig them too.
P.s: (All these images are for inspiration purpose and personal references only. I couldn't remember where I gather all these pictures due to it was a random found.)