How to have an awesome EASTER HUNT.....

Begin, set the rules, set the boundries, must have bunny ears

to participate although these did full off during the hunt.

Run, Hop, Find

Some hiding spots super easy

Some a little more tricky,

ah yes the face of look what I found!!

Mmmmm, where could they be ????

Hidden in the Strawberry Plant....

I think I've found them all Mum where are some others???

reward for effort, sweet satisfaction of hunting for your easter eggs

and then eating them all!!

This is how we began our day today.  Our traditional Easter Egg hunt.  The kids love it and couldn't image not having some sort of Easter Hunt on Easter Day.

Happy Easter Everyone!!

Anna xx 

Welcome 'The Twinery' to Koko Vanilla Designs

SOOOO EXCITED!!!!!!!!!

Who wouldn't be with these gorgeous colours of twine.  I have officially made it my job to source twine from anywhere in the world in any colour available and any thicknesss I can get my hands on becuase I personally love and use it so much. As you can see we now stock the The Twinery twine.  They have colours that the others suppliers don't so here are the newbies making their way on site very soon.  You will find them here when I have put them on site.

At Koko Vanilla we have one of the largest selection of twines and colours available for any crafting need you have - within Australia.  Come take a look.  Local pick up is always welcome if you are in Melbourne.

Off to get some work done...

P.S the colours are even more beautiful and vibrant in real life

Anna xx

My Week in Point Form and Pictures

I can't really be bothered typing this blog post because I have a cold and am feeling a bit over the holidays at the moment but I feel I need to do a catch up on my blog so here goes. 

Friday Night we had a 40th Birthday to attend of one of the mums from school, it was a fantastic night and I danced the night away literally 3 hours on the dance floor. The theme was a hairpiece or wig or hat or anything to glam up your hair.  I played it safe with a flower in my hair personal note must get a little more adventurous with these things

Sunday we celebrated an early Easter with my family becuase my sister is down from China and heading back this Friday and won't be here for the easter day so we did an early easter and of course that meant an early easter hunt for the kids.  I took 6 of these photos of the kids in this positon and not one has them all with a normal smile on their faces all looking at the camera.  Funny face expressions seem to be the in thing so I just go with it now.

Monday was my birthday which was a quiet normal day becuase we had a big lunch at my mums the day before including a cake and happy birthday for me.  My eldest brother put together an album of all the photos of my childhood up until I got married which was nice although I didn't turn 40 I am a couple of years away from that still.  It was kind of like a this is your life type album.  Don't you just look back on your teenage years and think how tragic with hairstyles OMG do not want to revisit those pictures.

My husband never grew up with birthday parties or so he says and is clueless about how to purchase gifts for anyone let alone his wife so yesterday I took my 3 kids into the city on the train and I purchased my own birthday present and had lunch with my kids and we had a really fun day.  Turned the frustration into positive energy and I think its a better way to deal with the situation don't you think.  Plus my kids really wanted to buy me something so this was their chance.  I know I may sound spoiled but it really doesn't take much to make an effort or a kind gesture... anyway that's a whole other post and I am not heading there.  I am certainly making sure my son does not follow in his fathers footsteps when it comes to being generous with money and gifts, hopefully I have influenced my kids enough to show them that giving is really important. Moving on....

Here is a cute photo of the kids in the new Myer store in the city in the basement level.  There was this retro caravan on display which Michael loved so we took a photo

Finally I have hardly had any time for craft or gym  but have managed to keep up walks and running around the block when I can and I did make these cute little ticket tags which I need to complete.

So that's it from me for now.

Hope you are surving the holidays and thanks for letting me vent today.  I am sure its the codral I have taken to get through the day that's making me be a little straighforward and honest.  Just my opinion and please don't take offense if you don't agree.

Anna xx

Merchant Gift Tags Available in Store

Hi Everybody,

Happy Friday.  I have survived the first week of the holidays just.  It's beautiful sunny and warm today and I plan on spending it getting plenty of things done around here as well as enjoying the sunshine with my kids and going for a long walk.  This weather is really all over the place from freezing cold to raining and now warm and all you can do is surrender and take it as it comes. 

I have so many requests lately for Merchant Gift tags for wedddings and parties that I have decided to list them as a stock standard item on site now.  These are availble in any colour or patterned paper, just email me for a custom order and we can chat about your requirements.  You can find the ones below here.

Snow White Merchant Gift Tags Pk 50

Also some cute new stamps arrived this week from Stamp It.   I just have to share them here.  The first is my absolute favourite and it makes me want to have a tea party just so I can make some cute little invitations and tags for it.  The Royal Mail Stamp is timely don't you think with the Royal Wedding approaching.  Some cute sentiment stamps as well as a French postage stamp.  You can find them all here.

Have a fantastic Weekend!!
Anna xx

Easter Holidays

Today I am taking the kids to see this move, along with 1000 other mums and kids I'm sure.  It's the perfect day for the movies, cold, raining, overcast, drizzly and just plain miserable weather wise when you look outside and of course is discount Tuesday for the movies as well. 

Who knows by this afternoon it could be warm and sunny.  Anyway how cute is this bunny.  Apparently this movie is really funny and well I am in the mood for lots of  laughs today.

On a crafty note since I seem to not be able to sleep beyond 5.30 - 6 am these days, I decided to get an early start on the day and list lots of new items that I have sitting here ready to be loaded.  Here is a peak of some the items but as always you can find them all in the New Arrivals.  The items shown below are from Prima, My Minds Eye, Jenni Bowlin and Inkadinkado

Have a wonderful Tuesday everyone.
Anna xx

Easter Decor

Yesterday I popped into a new store which is actually part of an existing store.  A friend of mine Nicole has just opened Design My Party an extension of My Christmas.  This link is to the facebook page where you can find all the details.  The store is located on Huntingdale Rd and has the most gorgeous party supplies ever.  I don't have any parties happening at the moment but I couldn't leave without purchasing this cute lolly jar.  The lolly jar is the tall one on the right of the photo.  Inside it is the cutest wooden Easter Eggs.  I have had these for a couple of years now and they make an appearance every Easter.  I usually add a new item every year, kind of like I do for Christmas.  Eventually it all adds up and you can do so some pretty amazing decorating.  So now the only decision left is where to display it.  In this photo it is on my front hall table, which I think is where it will stay.

However below it is in my studio where it is with all my other lolly jars that house my supplies, such as flowers, ribbons.  I love displaying everything in big jars.  Over the holidays I moved my studio around with my neighbours help so it all looks and feels quite professional (when its tidy) especially when customers pick up their orders and have a look at the supplies I stock.

In the background you can see part of my vision board, my cute little owl collection, and my other lolly jar filled with fabric petals.  In the front is a stunning pin cushion I purchased on etsy from Creative Paper Trail.  I purchased it for display purposes only as it is too gorgeous to stick pins into.  Plus I don't really sew that much anyway.

Now is the time to make your house Easter pretty.  It doesn't have to cost a fortune.  Mind you on my wish list is a white timber tree from Bed, Bath and Table at Doncaster, hoping it will be on sale soon, to add to my collection so I can actually hang some of the Easter Eggs off it.  I usually purchase items that have a multi purpose use.  Like the jars will be used during the year for parties.  The tree when I purchase it will probably be on display all year round and would also make a great photo prop. 

Hope you all find some inspiration to get into some Easter decorating.

I am summoning the willpower to not eat any chocolate eggs this year.  I have been doing lots of exercise and finally seeing some results as well as being really healthy with my eating and I am trying not too sabotage it all with my weakness chocolate.   I will update you on the other side with that one.  Trying to keep a strong, positive mindset about it all and think of my long term goals rather than the short term fix.  Not a very natural process for an Aries as we usually prefer instant gratification and to make up our own rules as we go and change them if need be LOL!

Oh well as they say you are never to old to learn something new, discipline is my key word at the moment.

On that note, have a lovely Sunday everyone.

Anna xx

Handmade Gift Tags

If you are looking for a unique gift tag or card we have plenty to choose from at Koko Vanilla.  Handmade with attention to detail.  You can find our selection here.  We are also happy to take custom orders, email your query to kokovanilla@live.com.au.  Below is a look at some of the goodies we have available.

Have a lovely weekend.

Anna

Inspiration Thursday

I woke up to this quote in my inbox this morning and I thought I would share

"The truth of the matter is that there's nothing you can't accomplish if: (1) You clearly decide what it is that you're absolutely committed to achieving, (2) You're willing to take massive action, (3) You notice what's working or not, and (4) You continue to change your approach until you achieve what you want, using whatever life gives you along the way." - Anthony Robbins

Thanks Anthony Robbins - OMG it would be amazing to be married to someone like him.  He is an absolute legend and I could imagine that being married to someone like this could be either highly entertaining or completely stressful just depends what challenge you are up for.

Have a great day everyone
Anna xx

Happy April Everyone

My favourite month of the year.  Can you guess why????

You might have to do some research to find out why, if you can be bothered, but anyway my favourite month just the same and no its not becuase of Easter.

I have just photographed these cute little bunnies and they will be making their way to the site and be for sale shortly.  I have made some little sample gift tags with them as a way to use them.  They would also make some divine cupcake toppers for Easter Day.

Moving on

This is what April in Melbourne looked like for a little while this morning.  I love opening the front door first thing in the morning and letting the crisp air in, and this is what I saw, which looks completely different now approx 1 hr later.

Sometimes I think the weather can depict our thoughts, sunny but raining. I think we often have parallels like this in life.  How beautiful to see the sun stream through whilst the rain falls, it is a great reminder that things in life are not static and we need the highs and the lows to appreciate both.

I have a busy day lined up today.  Thankfully I only have to do one netball run instead of two because hubby is home this morning and is doing the first.  Then I will do the next.  I also want to bake a choc fudge slice for a party we have on tonight and try to get to our school working bee for a couple of hours this afternoon.

So on that note hope you have a beautiful saturday and a brilliant start to April.

 

Hugs xx