#Whichonewouldyouchoose

Do you know that we have lots of exciting things happening over on our facebook page. 

We'd love for you to come over and join in :-)

https://www.facebook.com/McCarthyDesignsandOccasions/

This is our current giveaway!

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)

If you aren't on facebook then leave a comment on this post and we'll include you!

For another chance head over and follow us on Instagram too :-)

Find us @m_group_retail

Supplier Spotlight

Rustic Wood

Wood Work by Ross

Ross Walker is the craftsman behind many beautiful wooden pieces sold here at M Group. Ross started his home business ‘Rustic Woodwork’ at the age of 75 after retiring from working in Pathology at the Orange Base Hospital.

He had rekindled the love for woodwork just 2 years previously, beginning with a Lathe in the back shed making bowls and candlesticks. Ross had previously worked for a Carpenter after he left school at the young age of 12 but has taught himself most of what he knows.

In the past 2 to 3 years Ross has begun making larger pieces out of different woods, creating beautifully unique one of a kind items. His favourite piece is a dining table made from Mahogany that was brought down from Darwin by his son.

The love for woodwork has been passed down to his daughter, Lyn, who is often with him in the shed helping create pieces, and his grandson, Craig, who is working on a table of his own, often asking Ross for advice.

Ross is currently teaching himself lead lighting at the age of 84. It’s this passion for continued learning and creating that shows in Ross’ work.

You can see some of Ross’ work here in our online store and in our shop front at 13 William Street, Orange NSW or contact him through his email, rosswalker32@outlook.com.au, for custom orders and sales.’

Follow us on Facebook or Instagram for regular updates.

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 :-)

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

Tuesday Chat - Brie's Boo Teek

It's that time again, welcome to Tuesday Chat.

Today we are meeting Karina who is the founder of 

Brie's Boo Teek. 

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

I'm a mother of two, son 5 and daughter 2. I do alterations and ironing from home, accounts for a company and sew for my online, facebook and now in-store baby items. I make bibs, teethers, burp cloths, dummy clips, pram clips, nappy wallets, custom outfits and so much more. 

                       

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

I started sewing in 2013 when my daughter was born, she was my inspiration. People loved what I was making and asked to buy, it started from there.

What does a normal day look like for you?

Most creative in the morning, I'm a morning person.

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

Most creative in the morning, I'm a morning person.

Where do you get your inspiration from?

I get my inspiration from what my kids need, Pinterest, Google searches and from other crafty people.

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

A bit of both.

What is your dream job?

I’m doing it

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

I would love to get my business onto a website, etsy and just re-brand.

Are you a homebody or a traveller?

I’m a homebody

How do you relax?

I relax by having a glass of wine, watching my fave shows or reading a good book.

 Thank you Karina for your time and letting us get to know you a bit better. 

Join us again next week for Tuesday Chat as we meet another talented entrepreneur.

30% OFF STORE WIDE Today only

It's not too late

That's right, it's not too late to get your mum a gift from McCarthy Designs & Occasions. 

Gift Vouchers are available to purchase for any amount and they can be emailed directly to the recipient.

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend 

and a great Mothers Day

xx

Love Always

Love always, 

be generous

Believe in yourself, 

take chances 

try your best

Offer to help

FORGIVE

Put others first

No whining

Available here

xx

You are the Spring in my Step

Good morning all

Look what has just arrived in store

To check out the range of wall art I have available just click on the link HERE.

Have a great day and a wonderful weekend!

xx

Under $30

You can buy any one of these beauties for less than $30 right now with my 40% OFF SALE.

Sale ends Friday 5th April 2013

Antique Style French Vase

Glass Jars - Blue Vintage

Marie Antoinette Cushion

French Market Basket Style 3a

Tray with a glass cover - Romaine

40% OFF SALE at McCarthy Designs & Occasions

You can buy any one of these beauties for less than $20 right now with my 40% OFF SALE.

Sale ends Friday 5th April 2013

Black & White Pot

Black & White Vase 

Large Glass Jar with Silver Lid 

Cherub Photo Album 

Linen Frill Apron

Handmade gifts

 Jack has been very spoilt and received lots of gifts especially some very lovely handmade items that I know we will treasure for many years. 

I wanted to share this one in particular because the Lovely Lou from Stitched up with Buttons made it and just in case you don't know I have a range of her gorgeous hand made quilts available in store.

We were so thrilled that our wonderful friends who happen to be related to Lou organised such a special gift for Jack. 

Lou's quilts really are a lovely gift for any baby or child, each quilt is handmade and one of  kind. 

You can see the range of quilts that I have in store here.

 Have a great week!

xx