#Whichonewouldyouchoose

Our local calendars by Emay Images are back in stock :-)

These calendars are so popular at Christmas time as they make the perfect gift. They are easy to post, they are practical and they have gorgeous photos of Orange NSW and surrounds.

We have one included in today's #Whichonewouldyouchoose giveaway! 

Comment on this post, visit facebook or enter on Instagram! (@m_group_retail)

Or do all three :-)

Which one would you choose?
Tell us which one you'd like and share the post with the comment "Which one would you choose?"
We will pick a random winner from a random post throughout the week. You'll win the item that you chose. How good is that? We won't limit the winners each week there could be one or ten that just adds to the fun. So make sure you comment on and share each photo each day to increase your chance of winning!
When we pick a winner we will comment on the photo so that we can tag the winner making sure that they don't miss it!
(Open to Australian residents only)

Tuesday Chat with Pip & Will

Today's chat is with Kendelle from Pip and Will. Kendelle's range is just adorable and I have to resist the urge to buy something whenever she brings in new stock! :-)

Tell us a bit about you and what you sell/make? 

I am currently a stay at home mum.  I have one amazing little boy and another on the way!  I make and sell crochet items for babies and children. 

Why did you start to make and sell your own products?

During my last pregnancy I wanted to find a way to make money while at home with a new baby.  I tried a few things which weren’t really my thing, and I left the idea for a while.   When one of the talented girls in mothers group showed me a gorgeous baby blanket she had crocheted for her son, I thought I’d give it a go.  After much frustration, online tutorials and many crochet books, I finally taught myself - and discovered that with all my perseverance, I was quite good at it!  My great Grandma was excellent at crochet, so I believe I have inherited the skill from her.    So this new found love for crocheting has consumed a lot of my time this past year and I hope to continue building my little business and creating wonderful handmade pieces.

What does a normal day look like for you?

A normal day for me involves a lot of play and learning activities with little man.  That takes up most of the day.  In between parenting duties, I try and fit in some study, cleaning and crocheting. 

Where are you most creative/what time of the day are you most creative?

It varies each day depending on how much energy and motivation I have to create something!  Creativity can come from anywhere and everywhere.

Where do you get your inspiration from?

My son, other babies, different products on the market, and Pinterest! I LOVE pinterest!

Do you buy things for your house because they look pretty or because they are functional and serve a purpose?

Both.  I used to be an impulsive buyer and buy a lot of impractical items just because they were aesthetically appealing.  My budget doesn’t allow for such purchases these days!  I still buy things that are lovely to look at, but most importantly it has to be functional.

 

What is your dream job?

My dream job is to be a Tour Guide.  I am currently studying Tourism, so within the next few years I will (fingers crossed!) own and run a tour company in the area.

Do you have a major goal this year and what is it?

Welcome a happy and healthy boy into the world and make the transition from being a mum of one to a mum of two

Finish study

Continue creating new and exciting products and ideas for Pip and Will

Are you a homebody or a traveller?

Both.  I love to travel and see new places, but I I’ve been a lot more of a homebody since having a child.

How do you relax?

Going for a walk, watching a bit of tv, having a glass of red, or going to bed!

It was lovely to catch up with Kendelle and get to know her a bit more. The Pip and Will range is available in store now so pop in and have a look!

Have a great week!

Nellie

xx

Tuesday Chat - Greeting Grub Cards

This weeks Tuesday chat is with Chelsea from Greeting Grub Cards. Chelsea creates a great range of handmade cards that we are fortunate enough to sell in our store. They are the perfect addition to our range of unique handmade items.

Tell us a bit about yourself, and what you make/sell?

I have always lived in the Central west and I am the youngest of 5 children. I have recently finished studying my Cert 3 in Childcare and am now working casually at a local centre. I make handmade cards, gift tags and bags, bookmarks and fridge magnets.

Why did you start to make and sell your own products?

I started making cards about 12 months ago, and what started as just another hobby to keep myself busy, turned into custom requests off family members, and grew from there.

What does a normal day look like for you?

I’m a bit of a night-owl, so my days generally begin after a sleep-in, something to eat while watching Netflix, then I migrate to my craft room for the afternoon, always followed by my 2 cats.

Where are you most creative/What time of the day are you most creative?

Luckily my partner has allowed me to take over the spare room with all my craft and scrapbook supplies. It’s my messy little haven! Mostly of an afternoon or evening, once my partner’s gone back to work, dinner is made and I have no distractions otherwise.

Where do you get your inspiration from?

My mother has always been my biggest inspiration. Watching her scrapbook from a young age is what started me on my path to cardmaking. Also, Pinterest! I swear I spend more time looking up ideas than actually creating.

Do you buy things for your house that look pretty, or because they are functional and serve a purpose?

Generally because they’re pretty. I have a thing for anything owl! Especially if it’s pink or purple.

What is your dream job?

I’d actually really love to design cards for magazines, being sponsored by companies to use their products, and to create inspiring projects for others.

Do you have a major goal this year?

I hope to attend more local markets before the end of the year, to help get my products seen by more people.

Are you a homebody or a traveller?

I am definitely a homebody. As an introvert with OCD, I always feel out of place anywhere but home.

How do you relax?

I like to relax with music. Generally listening to Ed Sheeran, City and Colour or You+Me. So calming, and the perfect soundtrack for crafting!

Thanks for taking some time out to get to know a bit more about one of our fantastically talented suppliers.

Have a great week!

Nellie

xx

Tuesday Chat with Windera Designs

 Today I'd love for you to get to know Bec, Bec is the creative lady from Windera Designs. 

Tell us a bit about you and what you sell/make?

I’m an Orange local, Mum to 3 girls, work as a Registered Nurse and I make and sell jewellery and accessories.

Why did you start to make and sell your own products?

I’ve always been involved in some type of craft and love wearing different types of jewellery, so when my youngest daughter started school I thought I’d have a go at making my own jewellery. I really enjoyed it so I thought I’d turn it into something more & started selling earlier this year.

What does a normal day look like for you?

Lots of driving in & out of town & after school activities!

Where are you most creative/what time of the day are you most creative?

I’m fortunate to have a craft room that’s all set up for me to work in. I’ll pop in there during the day when I get a chance. Most of my work is done at night though.

Where do you get your inspiration from?

My sister in law helps me with ideas and I enjoy looking through my supplies and having a play around with different products, colours and combinations.

Do you buy things for your house because they look pretty or because they are functional and serve a purpose?

A little bit of both, but for me it’s more that I like things to match rather than look pretty!

What is your dream job?

I don’t think I have a dream job!

Do you have a major goal this year and what is it?

Not a major goal as such, but I’d like to take my jewellery to more markets this year.

Are you a homebody or a traveller?

Probably both, I love to travel overseas but always enjoy coming home.

How do you relax?

Playing in my craft room and heading down to the South coast.

 I hope you have enjoyed reading about Bec and her business Windera Designs. You can buy Bec's products in our store and if you can't make it in to shop please don't hesitate to contact us we are more than happy to help you out and post any purchases to you :-)

6 Simple Tips to Make Your Dreams a Reality

I found this inspirational article and thought I would share it with you;

Why are Dreams or Goals so Important?

Dreams and goals are the backbone of society and innovation. They are the birthplace of human ambition. And a person without a dream or goal is only a shell of his or her full potential.

• Dreams or major goals are so important for a number of reasons including:
• Dreams motivate you to do your best and reach your full potential.
• Dreams provide you with positive energy and help to keep you going through hard times
• Dreams keep you focused on what’s really important.
• Dreams help you define yourself as the type of person you’d want to be.
• Dreams keep you excited about life and the possibilities of the future.

6 Powerful Ways to Make Your Dreams Come True

So, how can we see that we actually accomplish our goals and realize our greatest dreams?  Here are 6 tips that you can put to work for yourself immediately to make your dreams a reality.

1. Visualize Yourself Reaching Your Dream

Visualization is a great first step to make your dream a reality.  By visualizing yourself in the final stages and achievement of the dream, you affirm to your subconscious that it can be done and that you are already on your way. This limitless supply of positive energy is crucial to reaching your goal especially when the going gets tough.

2. Get Organized

The next step in my experience to reaching your greatest dream is to come up with a strategic plan. 

Rather than just dreaming about it and hoping one day it comes to pass, create a plan that you could use to actually see it become reality.  Although this can be a daunting task, just remember thateach step gets you that much closer.  Make a list of the first few steps and just do one thing at a time. 

For example if your dream or goal is to lose 50 lbs don’t just start working out randomly. Plan it out and be very particular to how you use your time. Take it one day at a time focusing on making that specific day as efficient as possible towards losing weight.

This planning and way of thinking will not just bring you closer to your goal, but it will also make you feel good and positive about your progress.

3. Build a Support Network

A strong support system is crucial to being successful no matter what your goal is. Just like how a bridge can’t stand by itself, it’s harder to make a dream a reality on your own.

You could look at all of the great accomplishments people have made from Steve Jobs founding Apple Inc. to Michael Phelps becoming the most decorated Olympian of all time – they have all had people who have supported them and helped them along the way. While this doesn’t mean that you ask someone else to do all of the work for you. Sharing your dream and vision with others who believe in you will greatly help you in your journey towards your goal.

4. Ignore the “Haters”

There will always be people who refuse to believe in the feasibility of your dream. They will put you down and they may even tell you that your dream is impossible. You must ignore these “haters” and march forward. Don’t let their negativity even touch you and keep focused and locked in towards your goal.

Always keep in mind that many people before have tried to stop dreamers from dreaming throughout history. But dreamers have always been triumphant.  Look at the example of the Wright Brothers. They dreamt that one day they would fly. People laughed at them and mocked them. But they shut everybody up when they made the first airplane. And today flying is an accepted concept and a basic form of transportation. 

5. Pull The Trigger

At some point you’re going to have to make decisions to make your dreams come true. These could be small decisions like going for a morning jog or bigger decisions like taking a large loan from the bank. Just remember that whatever the decision you make, don’t be afraid of making it. Always do you due diligence but in the end make sure you “Pull the Trigger” for whichever option you choose. There will be more opportunities in the future but you must make most of what you have now.

6. Develop Self-Confidence

Self-confidence is crucial to making your dream or goal a reality. Unless you believe in yourself and your abilities completely, you will never be able to reach your max potential. In the simple but powerful words of Peter Pan: “The moment you doubt whether you can fly, you cease for ever to be able to do it.”

7. Transform Your Dream into Energy

You must transform your dreams and goals into a burning desire inside of you. You must feel that you want to reach your dreammore than you even want to even breathe. Once you’re in this state of mind you will find that there is not much that can stop you. This desire will fuel your every action and give you an endless supply of energy to reach your goal.

This desire can always be found in the most successful people.

This article was found here : 

www.codeofliving.com/articles/6-simple-tips-make-your-dreams-reality

Hope you enjoyed that little bit of encouragement!

Have a great week and don't forget our shop is open this Saturday or if you can't make it in have a look online here:

www.mccarthydesigns.com.au

Nellie

xx

Read more at:http://www.codeofliving.com/articles/6-simple-tips-make-your-dreams-reality

Tuesday Chat with Ashlea

Welcome back to Tuesday chat. This week I am really excited to introduce you to the newest member of the McCarthy Designs and Occasion's team.

Ashlea is our new full time staff member and the person you will most likely be dealing with when you shop with us.

I thought it would be a great opportunity for you all to get to know Ashlea and also to let you all know that we are now open Monday through to Friday from 9am until 5.30pm! Yay!!!

Ashlea has also made great headway into updating our online shop so please make sure you check it out and remember to come back as Ashlea still has lots of goodies to load.

www.mccarthydesigns.com.au

3e
1.       Tell us a bit about you.I am Mum to two beautiful children, Ruby 4 and Lochlan 3. I love to read novels and occasionally write stories.

2.       What does a normal day look like for you? A normal day starts with a crazy morning getting the children up, breakfast and all getting dressed. Next is the half an hour car trip to day care then off to work. Maybe a quick shop on my lunch break and back to work for the afternoon. After work I pick up Ruby and Lochlan and head back home. Ruby and Lockie both love to help cook dinner, especially if it’s homemade pizza night. Then bath and shower time. After the kids go to bed it’s time for an episode of my favourite show Spicks and Specks. A quick clean up, then a couple of chapters of whatever book I’m lost in and finally bedtime.

3.       Most used small appliance in your kitchen?My kettle by far. I love coffee in the mornings and tea before bed.

4.       Do you buy things for your house because they look pretty or because they are functional and serve a purpose?I like to have a mix of both and better yet is when I find something not only pretty but also functional. I find with two small children I tend to go for more functional items.

5.       What is your dream job?My dream job is to be a published author. I would love to write a book one day and have it sold in bookshops internationally.

6.       Do you have a major goal this year and what is it?My major goal this year was to find a full-time position doing something I enjoy and fortunately I have managed to achieve that.

7.       Would you consider yourself to be a creative person?I don’t think I’m overly creative but I would like to be especially with decorating my house.

8.       If yes, Where do you get your inspiration from?My inspiration with to decorate has come from watching too much House Rules.

9.       Are you a homebody or a traveller?I love to travel but coming home is always a good feeling. If I had to choose I would probably say that I’m a traveller.

10.   How do you relax?The best way to relax is to sit in front of the fire with a good book and a cup of tea, something I try to do every night before bed.Thanks Ashlea for taking the time to let us all get to know you a bit better. Please drop in and meet Ashlea in person I am sure she'd love to see you :-)

x

Tuesday Chat - Handcraft Heaven

Today's Tuesday Chat is a bit different again, I thought it would be a great idea to list all of our current suppliers here for you in one place. 

Please take some time to pop over to each one to see what they make you can click on the suppliers logo or name to take you directly to their face book page.

Don't forget you can find products from all of these in our shop at 15 William St, Orange or visit our Facebook page and if you see anything you like contact us, we are happy to arrange postage.

The Sarbie Collection

 

All the Small things - Girls Hair Bows

Brie’s Boo Teek

Little Glitz by Amanda

Paddy Paws Orange

Pip and Will

Maison Chic

These lovely ladies don't have a page to visit at the moment but they create some gorgeous things:

Stitched up With Buttons

Kylie S

and these lovelies are coming soon:

Poppy & O Designs

I call it art by Reynee

Fox and Hedgehog

Jammin Creations

Tuesday Chat - Mums in Business

This Tuesday I wanted to share something a little different with you, I often have mums commenting how they would like to start their own business and work from home, so hen I read this article from www.mumsinbusiness.net I thought I would share it with you. Enjoy!

Are You Looking at Starting Your Own Small Business or Just Started a Home Based Small Business?

There are many reasons why mum's want to start a home based small business – flexibility of working around the children, working from home, potential to earn more money and being able to create a better lifestyle. A home based small business gives you options that you wouldn’t normal get if you were employed. It can be a great win-win situation!
In this day and age there are plenty of good business ideas available. Coming up with ideas for a business is usually easy. But how do you turn an idea into a profitable business?
Well you just need to follow the right business steps. It is a well known fact that a high proportion of businesses fail within the first few years and for business mums it can be a little more challenging; trying to juggle the children, the business and the finances but with the right research, planning and help (Mums in Business has been established especially to assist you) it can be a lot of FUN and very REWARDING. You can have a very successful business.
Five key points for mums starting up a new business
So before starting your own small business you should consider your situation and your business idea. Mums in Business has put together five key points for you to consider before starting your small home business:

1. Is this for you? Running a business can be challenging and demanding and is not for everyone so before taking the next steps to set up a business it is important to see if it is for you. You need to consider your personality, skills and circumstances. Ask yourself why you want to start a home based business and if you are really suited to running a business or are you just looking for some extra cash.
2. Are you ready? Consider the following:
   • Are you able to work at home? At least you will need a computer and an Internet connection. It is also advisable to have a designated place where you can work from that is away from distractions around the house.
   • Are you disciplined? When working from home it is easy to get distracted by housework, errands, Facebook or personal emails. So do you have the discipline without procrastinating to assign time (a few hours each day or a few days a week) to focus on your business.
   • Are you committed and motivated? You will need to learn new skills and try things you have never done before. You will need to motivate yourself on an ongoing basis by setting goals. Are you are up for the challenge? 
   • What changes will you make? How much time are you prepared to spend on your business and what are you going to give up to achieve that, less time watching TV, less time with the family etc. If you have children at home, who will look after them whilst you are working on your business and how will you pay for that - one less takeaway maybe!
3. Need ideas for a business?There are lots of ways to make money online - here are some good business ideas for you to consider.
   
   • Affiliate marketing. This is where you become an affiliate of someone else's product and sell it for a percentage of the sale. This is an easy method as they deal with everything else – stock, payments, shipping etc. There are sites like Clickbank.com and PayDotDom.com that have thousands of affiliate products at up to 70% commission for you to promote. 
   • Digital/Online products. Creating your own digital products, eBooks, Audio, Videos, e-courses, subscriptions and memberships etc to sell is a great business. The key is to find a niche market (people with mutual interests) and bring them together into one place. You will need to create information that people cannot get anywhere else. The beauty is you can sell them over and over again once to your niche market it is set up because people download the products straight from your site automatically. 
   • Sell a service (your skills). You can sell just about anything if there is a need for it. Think about what you are good at – event planning, teaching people to use Facebook etc and then create a package of your services to sell on a simple website. Now a day’s location isn’t a restriction with most service businesses as you can use Teleseminars, conferences, Skype, Videos, Audio etc. 
   • Physical products/Ecommerce sites. This method will require you to invest a little more time and money to set it up that the other methods as you have to source products and get those products online. You will also require capital to purchase these products (some companies will allow products on consignment).
   For more details on what kind of resources are available to assist you start a business, just click here
   

   If you are still looking for more specific ideas for a business, visit the Ideas for a Business section on this website www.mumsinbusiness.net/ideas-for-a-business.html

4. Is there a DEMAND for your product?Far too often business mums start a business, but fail to consider if there is a DEMAND for their business before spending time and money on developing it. It’s as simple as Supply and Demand. You need to supply products to meet the demand. If there is no demand no amount of marketing or money will help you sell your products. You can find out if there is a demand by doing some keyword research. If the research shows that there are buyers searching for your product, then you know there is a demand.
5. How are you going to finance your business? The good news is that a lot of work at home businesses can be started on a small amount of money but you will need some start up money to fund your business; the amount will depend on the type of business you start. You need to consider what you will spend it on, like on a website, office equipment, stationery, marketing etc. Also you should have funds available to cover costs whilst you are trying to make sales.
   A word of caution - Don’t spend any money until you have investigated all avenues. Many times I talk to business women who have spent $3,000 on a magazine ad, or are just about to pay up to $5,000 for a website - there is no way a website needs to cost anything like this.
   
   So before you spend anything substantial, research the market and suppliers. I can tell you now; there are always other options I am teach you to get you started, like using a free blog instead of a website or using free traffic methods to promote your business. You can always upgrade your website or pay for advertising once you start making money.

For more useful information visit www.mumsinbusiness.net

30% OFF STORE WIDE Today only

Busyness - in a good way

I have been quite slack at blogging lately and even my Instagramming has fallen by the wayside :-( 

I have been a little busier than usual and for all good reasons. I was ready to put some time into my business and it has paid off with lots of sales and lovely people wanting to come and shop. I had so many requests to look at my products that I have set up a temporary 'Shop' at home. 

I am 'Open' on Tuesdays and Thursdays between 10am and 6pm for any one wanting to come and shop, sticky beak or collect and order. It is a great way for me to meet so many new people and the upside is I don't need to leave the house and I can look after Jack and work :-)

It has taken a few weeks for me to work out a nice balance between work and home but I am getting there. 

I have some markets coming up as well as another promotional photo shoot to prepare for. Lots of stuff to look forward to and to keep me busy. I'm also looking forward to attending the next gift fair n Sydney. It's a great excuse for a weekend away with hubby and it will be interesting to see how we cope with a baby especially since we can't take the pram into the Convention Centre and Jack is a hefty 9.8kg of dead weight. Looks like Dad will get a good work out that day ;-) 

Don't forget Father's Day is just around the corner and I offer a $12.95 flat rate of postage Australia Wide. I can gift wrap and enclose a card all at no extra cost just remember to request it.